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Breaking Down the Differences: Januvia vs. Jardiance
Diabetes is expensive. The annual economic burden of diabetes drugs in the US is $57.6 billion, accounting for up to 20% of the total cost of all prescriptions nationwide. Sadly, this condition can also cost people their lives.
Drugs like Januvia and Jardiance can help people manage their diabetes symptoms. They can also be affordable when you order your prescriptions for the lowest available cost.
Which of these drugs is right for you is up to your doctor. Still, you may wonder about the Januvia vs. Jardiance difference. This guide can help illuminate exactly that.
Read on to learn more about Januvia and Jardiance, the features they share, and how these diabetes type 2 medications differ.
What Is Januvia?
Januvia is a type 2 diabetes medication manufactured by the pharmaceutical company Merck. Doctors prescribe Januvia to people over 18 alongside diet and exercise to improve blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
Zituvia is another brand-name drug that contains the same active ingredient as Januvia.
What Is Jardiance?
Jardiance is a type 2 diabetes medication manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim and the pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly. This drug is not meant to be used alone for lowering blood sugar but in combination with diet and exercise.
Uniquely, Jardiance is the only medication in its drug class with the ability to treat people with heart disease.
Januvia vs. Jardiance: What’s the Difference?
Now that you understand what Januvia and Jardiance are let’s explore how these type 2 diabetes drugs differ. Understanding the pros and cons of each can help doctors and patients decide which medication is best.
Januvia vs. Jardiance Side Effects
Januvia and Jardiance have side effects. Some are more common, and others are more severe.
Jardiance comes with common side effects like:
- Yeast infections
- Frequent urination
- Excessive thirst
- Itching
- Skin rashes
- Raised cholesterol levels
The common side effects of Januvia are:
- Upper respiratory infections
- Colds
- Headaches
- Low blood sugar
- Vomiting
- Constipation
Jardiance also comes with infrequent but more serious side effects, such as:
- Dehydration
- Allergic reactions
- Low blood sugar
- Increased risk of UTIs
- Significantly increased cholesterol
- Diabetic ketoacidosis
- Bacterial infections (rare)
Januvia’s rare but serious side effects are more minimal and include:
- Inflammation of the pancreas
- Allergic reactions
- Kidney problems
- Kidney disease
- Joint pain
- Significantly reduced blood sugar
Just because you take Januvia or Jardiance does not automatically mean you’ll experience these symptoms. Still, if you are concerned about your health while taking these drugs, always consult with your doctor.
Januvia vs. Jardiance Cost
The cost of Januvia and Jardiance depends on numerous factors, including the strength, the number of tablets, and your insurance coverage. In general, these drugs tend to cost about the same.
For example, at Canadian Pharmacy Online, you can purchase 90 25-milligram tablets of Jardiance for $168. That comes out to about $1.87 per tab. 84 25-milligram tablets of Januvia cost slightly less at $1.79 per tab.
Generics can lower the cost of a prescription. Unfortunately, neither drug is available as a generic. The FDA has approved generic versions of Jardiance that should be available in 2025.
Januvia vs. Jardiance Uses
Januvia and Jardiance are prescribed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is the only indication for Januvia. Doctors may also prescribe Jardiance for two other purposes:
- To reduce the risk of death in people with comorbid type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease
- To reduce the risk of death and hospitalization in people with heart failure and low ejection fraction
Jardiance also has off-label uses for obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. However, it is not FDA-approved for these purposes.
Importantly, Januvia and Jardiance are not for people with type 1 diabetes. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes have different causes, and the reasons behind the former mean symptoms will not respond to these drugs.
Januvia vs. Jardiance Dosage
Januvia and Jardiance should both be taken orally once daily. Januvia comes in a wider spectrum of strengths: 25, 50, and 100 milligrams. Jardiance only comes in 10 and 25-milligram preparations.
Januvia vs. Jardiance Active Ingredients
Januvia’s active ingredient is empagliflozin, while Jardiance’s active ingredient is sitagliptin. These active ingredients are within different drug classes, meaning they have distinct mechanisms of action.
Empagliflozin is a dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitor. DPP-4 is an enzyme, or a substance that speeds up chemical reactions. This enzyme impacts glucose homeostasis through its interaction with incretin hormones GLP-1 and GIP.
GLP-1 and GIP both stimulate insulin secretion, resulting in lower blood sugar. DPP-4 degrades (or breaks down) these hormones. Empagliflozin can prevent DPP-4 from breaking down GLP-1 and GIP to reduce blood sugar levels.
Sitagliptin is a sodium-glucose transport protein 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor. SGLT-2 proteins reside in the kidney, where their primary function is to reabsorb glucose that has been filtered from the bloodstream.
When SGLT-2 proteins are inhibited (such as by sitagliptin), they do not send the glucose they absorb back into the bloodstream, exacerbating high blood sugar levels. The result is lower blood sugar and reduced diabetic symptoms.
Januvia vs. Jardiance Drug Interactions
Januvia and Jardiance should not be used with certain medications because they can cause moderate to severe interactions.
Both drugs moderately interact with topical steroids like betamethasone and hydrocortisone. These drugs also share severe interactions with antibiotics for bacterial infections and bexarotene for skin cancer in common.
Other substances that can have serious interactions with Januvia include:
- Diuretics
- ACE inhibitors
- Oral corticosteroids
- Anticonvulsants
- Other diabetes treatments like insulin and sulfonylurea
Jardiance also features serious interactions with drugs like the following:
- Beta-blockers
- Calcium channel blockers
- Diuretics
- ACE inhibitors
- Corticosteroids
- Anticonvulsants
There may be additional medications Januvia and Jardiance interact with. Talk to your doctor about all the prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs you use to reduce your risk of negative or potentially life-threatening complications.
Januvia and Jardiance at Canadian Pharmacy Online
Januvia and Jardiance are FDA-approved medications for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. They offer similar benefits, price tags, and drug interactions. The difference between Januvia vs. Jardiance comes from their active ingredients and side effects.
Are you struggling to afford the cost of your diabetes medication? Canadian Pharmacy Online offers convenient and trustworthy online services to find the medications you need at the lowest available cost.
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