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Compare Trulicity vs. Januvia

Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, warnings, and more.

Key takeaways

Trulicity (dulaglutide) and Januvia (sitagliptin) are both prescription medications used to treat Type 2 diabetes, but they work in different ways and are taken differently. Trulicity is a GLP-1 agonist that you inject once a week. It helps your body release more insulin, slows down digestion, and stops the release of extra sugar into your bloodstream. Trulicity also lowers the risk of major heart events in adults with Type 2 diabetes who have heart disease or risk factors for heart disease. On the other hand, Januvia is a DPP-4 inhibitor taken by mouth once daily. It works by blocking a protein that breaks down hormones responsible for insulin production, allowing insulin to stay in your body longer and reducing sugar production. Trulicity can cause side effects like nausea and stomach pain, while Januvia might cause a runny nose, sore throat, and headache. Trulicity is also linked to a risk of thyroid cancer and pancreatitis, whereas Januvia has warnings about potential kidney problems and severe joint pain.

  • Trulicity (dulaglutide)
    Januvia (sitagliptin)
  • Trulicity (dulaglutide)
    Januvia (sitagliptin)

  • Summary of Trulicity vs. Januvia

    Summary for GLP-1 agonist
    Prescription only

    Trulicity (dulaglutide) is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist that helps control blood sugar in people 10 years and older with Type 2 diabetes. It's also approved to lower the risk of heart problems like heart attacks, strokes, and heart-related death in certain adults with Type 2 diabetes. The medication is injected under the skin once a week. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain. When taken with certain diabetes medications like insulin, there's a higher risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).

    Summary for DDP-4 inhibitor
    Prescription only

    Januvia (sitagliptin) is a prescription medication used along with a healthy diet and exercise to treat Type 2 diabetes. It belongs to the drug class dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor, also known as gliptins. Januvia (sitagliptin) is taken by mouth, typically once daily. Most people don't experience many side effects from this medication, but possible ones include stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, and headache.

  • Indications of Trulicity vs. Januvia

    Indications for
    •Manage Type 2 diabetes in people 10 years and older, along with diet and exercise
    •Lower the risk of heart problems like heart attack, stroke, or death in adults with Type 2 diabetes who have heart disease or heart-related risk factors
    Indications for
    •Type 2 diabetes in adults

  • Pros and Cons of Trulicity vs. Januvia

    Pros and Const for GLP-1 agonist
    Pros
    •Works well at lowering A1C
    •Comes as a ready-to-use injectable pen
    •Only used once a week
    •Helps with weight loss
    Cons
    •Commonly causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain
    •Potential risk for thyroid tumors
    •Can cause problems in the pancreas, kidney, and gallbladder
    •Not recommended for people with stomach problems
    Pros and Const for DDP-4 inhibitor
    Pros
    •Only taken once a day
    •Can take with or without food
    •Not known to affect your body weight
    Cons
    •Can cause severe joint pain
    •Not a first choice option for people with Type 2 diabetes and heart problems
    •Might cause sudden kidney injury in people with kidney problems

  • Common Side Effects of Trulicity vs. Januvia

    Common Side Effects for
    •Nausea (12-21%)
    •Diarrhea (7-13%)
    •Vomiting (6-13%)
    •Stomach pain (7-9%)
    •Low appetite (5-9%)
    •Fatigue (4-6%)
    •Indigestion (3-6%)
    Common Side Effects for
    •Runny nose, sore throat, and other symptoms of the common cold (5%)

  • Warnings of Trulicity vs. Januvia

    Common Side Effects for
    •Thyroid cancer
    •Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
    •Low blood sugar when used with certain diabetes medications
    •Severe allergic reactions
    •Kidney damage
    •Severe stomach-related side effects
    •Worsening eye problems in people with diabetic retinopathy
    •Gallbladder problems
    •Breathing fluid into your lungs during anesthesia or deep sedation
    Common Side Effects for
    •Pancreas problems
    •Heart failure
    •Sudden kidney problems
    •Serious allergic reactions
    •Joint pain
    •Severe skin reactions

  • Prices with our coupons for Trulicity vs. Januvia

    Learn more about Trulicity
    Learn more about Januvia

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