Key takeaways
Saxagliptin (Onglyza) and pioglitazone (Actos) are both medications used to help control blood sugar in people with Type 2 diabetes, but they work in different ways and belong to different drug classes. Saxagliptin is a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor that helps your body make more insulin by blocking a protein that breaks down hormones involved in insulin production. Pioglitazone, on the other hand, is a thiazolidinedione that improves your body's ability to use insulin. Saxagliptin is taken once daily and is less likely to cause weight gain, while pioglitazone can cause weight gain and fluid build-up. Pioglitazone also has a risk of causing bladder cancer and bone fractures, especially in women, which is not a concern with saxagliptin. Both medications can be taken with or without food, but saxagliptin is available in a generic form, whereas pioglitazone is still available under the brand name Actos.
