Tradjenta vs Januvia

Tradjenta and Januvia are brand names for prescription drugs used together with an exercise and diet program to help with glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Both drugs belong to a drug class of medications known as DPP-4 inhibitors (dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors).

Here we will explain how they work, their similarities and differences, their side effects, and more. This should provide you with the basics to better understand your options.

What is Tradjenta?

Tradjenta is an FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) approved diabetes medication manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. It is given to adults with type 2 diabetes. Used alongside exercise and diet changes, it can help you lower your blood glucose levels. This medication causes you to absorb more glucose from your blood, helping you maintain lower blood glucose levels throughout the day.

The active ingredient in Tradjenta is called linagliptin. Unlike many other diabetes treatments for type 2 diabetes, linagliptin is not a type of insulin. Linagliptin works by blocking an enzyme in your body called DPP-4. This enzyme breaks down hormones, called incretins, that take glucose out of your blood. By stopping DPP-4 from working, linagliptin causes more glucose to be absorbed from your blood. It can also cause more insulin to be released from your pancreas too, further helping to lower your blood glucose levels.

Tradjenta dosage

Tradjenta is available in tablet form, in the following doses: 5 mg. The recommended dose is 5 mg once daily with or without food.

What is Januvia?

Januvia is an FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) approved medication manufactured by Merck. Januvia is a diabetes drug also used to treat type 2 diabetes, by helping to lower blood sugar levels when used in combination with exercise and changes to your diet.

If you have type 2 diabetes, your body may not produce enough insulin or may become resistant to the effects of insulin. This means less sugar is removed from your blood and your blood sugar levels stay too high. High blood sugar levels can cause a range of problems over time, including nerve damage, heart disease, strokes, and kidney failure. Januvia treats type 2 diabetes by helping to lower your blood sugar levels. It encourages your pancreas to produce insulin for longer after you’ve eaten, helping your body absorb more sugar out of your blood.

Januvia dosage

Januvia is available in tablet form, in the following doses: 25 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg.

The active ingredient in Januvia is called sitagliptin. It works by increasing the amount of insulin you produce after you’ve eaten. When you digest food, your stomach and gut produce digestive hormones called GLP-1 and GIP. These hormones make your pancreas secrete insulin. As you continue to digest your food, the digestive hormones are broken down by an enzyme called DPP-4 to allow your levels of insulin to fall again.

Sitagliptin stops the DPP-4 enzyme from breaking down the digestive hormones. This keeps the hormones active for longer, making you produce more insulin, and lowering your blood sugar to normal levels.

Common side effects of Tradjenta and Januvia

The most common side effects of Tradjenta in clinical trials include:

• A stuffy or runny nose
• A sore throat
• A cough
• Weight gain
• Low blood sugar
• Diarrhea

More serious side effects of Tradjenta include:

• Heart failure
• Severe allergic reactions to the medication that can cause anaphylaxis
• Inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis), which can be severe, and in some cases, fatal
• Very low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
• Severe joint pain
• Skin reactions that cause blisters and breakdown and loss of the outer layer of your skin

The most common side effects of Januvia in clinical trials include:

• Increase in upper respiratory infections and the common cold
• Headaches
• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels)
• Vomiting
• Constipation

More serious side effects of Januvia include

• Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
• Kdney disease, and kidney failure

These aren’t all the side effects Tradjenta or Januvia can cause. You can find more details in the patient leaflet that comes with your medication. Talk to your physician or pharmacist if you have any concerns about side effects.

Tradjenta and Januvia drug interactions

Tradjenta can interact with other medications. These include:

• Insulin or any other medications for type 2 diabetes
• Any anticonvulsant medications taken to reduce the chances of you having seizures, like carbamazepine, phenobarbital, or phenytoin
• Rifampicin an antibiotic used to treat infections, like tuberculosis and legionellosis

Januvia can interact with other medications. These include:

• Other medications that can lower blood sugar levels, like insulin or a sulfonylurea medicine
• Digoxin – used to treat a range of heart conditions

Tradjenta and Januvia can interact with other medications. This can change how Tradjenta and Januvia and other medications work and can make side effects more likely. Tell your prescribing physician about all your drugs, including vitamins and dietary supplements.

Tradjenta and Januvia contraindications

You should not use Tradjenta if you:

• Are allergic to the active ingredient linagliptin
• Are allergic to any of the other ingredients in Tradjenta
• Have type 1 diabetes (Tradjenta is for type 2 diabetes only)
• Have diabetic ketoacidosis – a condition where high blood sugar causes high levels of ketones to build up in your body
• Are under 18 years of age

Talk to your doctor before using Tradjenta if you:

• Are taking any of the medications that could interact with Tradjenta
• Have or have ever had an inflamed pancreas (pancreatitis)
• Are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant
• Are breastfeeding or are planning to breastfeed

You should not use Januvia if you:

• Are allergic to the active ingredient sitagliptin
• Are allergic to any of the other ingredients in Januvia
• Have type 1 diabetes
• Are under 18 years of age

Talk to your doctor before using Januvia if you:

• Have a history of pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
• Have a heart condition
• Have kidney disease or any other renal/kidney problems
• Are over 65 years of age

Other diabetes medicines

• Actos (pioglitazone)
• Glucagon
• Glucophage (metformin)
• Glucotrol XL (glipizide)
• Glynase (glyburide)
• Janumet (sitagliptin and metformin)
• Jardiance (empagliflozin)
• Jentadueto (metformin/linagliptin)
• Nesina (alogliptin)
• Onglyza (saxagliptin)

If you have any concerns about Tradjenta or Januvia side effects, talk to your physician, or pharmacist for medical advice. Also inform your healthcare provider about any medical conditions, supplements, and over-the-counter meds you are taking. You are also encouraged to report side effects to the FDA: visit http://www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.