Key takeaways
Tradjenta (linagliptin) and glipizide (formerly Glucotrol) are both medications used to treat Type 2 diabetes, but they work differently and belong to different drug classes. Tradjenta helps your body produce more insulin and make less sugar by blocking the DPP-4 protein. It’s taken once daily and can be taken with or without food. On the other hand, glipizide lowers blood sugar by telling your pancreas to release more insulin. It’s usually taken once or twice daily with meals to avoid dangerously low blood sugar levels. Glipizide is more likely to cause weight gain and has a higher risk of causing low blood sugar than Tradjenta. Both medications can interact with other drugs and have specific side effects, such as joint pain for Tradjenta and the possibility of serious heart problems with glipizide. Tradjenta does not have a generic form, while glipizide is available as a lower-cost generic medication.
