Jardiance vs. Januvia: Differences, similarities, and side effects

In this article:

• Is Jardiance better than Januvia?
• Insurance coverage and cost
• Side effects
• Interactions and warnings

In this article

• Is Jardiance better than Januvia?
• Insurance coverage and cost
• Side effects
• Interactions and warnings

Jardiance and Januvia are two brand-name medicines used to control blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 diabetes. Jardiance is also used to treat chronic kidney disease (CKD) and heart failure. Although both Jardiance and Januvia are often prescribed for blood sugar control, they belong to different drug classes and have notable differences in how they work. 

“Jardiance and Januvia are two different medications for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes,” says Jodie Pepin, Pharm.D., the clinical pharmacy program director at Harbor Health. “They are from two different classes of medications that have two distinct mechanisms of action.”

Is Jardiance better than Januvia?

“So many people who have diabetes have other medical conditions as well,” Dr. Pepin says. “The art of treating diabetes is to understand these conditions and to choose medications that benefit some chronic conditions and reduce the risk of adverse reactions.” In other words, whether Jardiance is better than Januvia depends on your current conditions and overall health. 

In one comparison study, each of these drugs was combined with metformin in a trial that evaluated efficacy in achieving glycemic control. The active ingredient in Jardiance, when combined with metformin, provided better glycemic control. However, a separate study concluded that the combination of Januvia with metformin had more favorable benefits in managing the lipid profile. This underscores the need to consider and treat the patient’s unique whole health when choosing medication therapy. 

Both Jardiance and Januvia are effective treatments for Type 2 diabetes, but Januvia is only approved for adults, while Jardiance is also approved for children ages 10 and older. Jardiance also has more approved indications as a treatment for heart failure and for CKD.

“In the end, your healthcare provider should help choose the best medication for you,” Ginn-Meadow says. Diabetes treatment options vary depending on the severity of the condition, the patient’s body weight, the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), and more.

Jardiance vs. Januvia: Insurance coverage and cost comparison

Without insurance, the average retail price of Jardiance is about $864 for 30, 25 mg tablets, and the average retail price of Januvia is about $723 for 30, 100 mg tablets. However, drug prices vary by pharmacy, dosage, location, and more. If you have insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid, you’ll likely pay less. Check with your health insurance plan for more information. 

RELATED: Does Medicaid cover Jardiance? | Jardiance copay assistance

You can save money by using a SingleCare prescription discount card to access Jardiance and Januvia coupons from your preferred pharmacy. With SingleCare coupons, you may pay as low as $530 for a month’s supply of Jardiance and $293 for a month’s supply of Januvia.

Jardiance vs. Januvia side effects

Because Jardiance and Januvia have different mechanisms of action, they tend to cause different adverse effects.

“Common side effects of Jardiance include urinary tract infections and yeast infections,” Ginn-Meadow says. Other Jardiance side effects include upper respiratory infections, increased urination, elevated levels of fats or cholesterol in the blood (dyslipidemia), joint pain, nausea, and kidney problems.

The most common side effects of Januvia are cold symptoms and headaches. 

Both of these drugs also come with a risk of serious side effects, such as pancreatitis for Januvia and ketoacidosis for Jardiance.

Patients considering Jardiance or Januvia should consult a healthcare provider for a complete list of side effects.

The most common side effects of Jardiance and Januvia include:

Jardiance:

• Urinary tract infection (UTI)
• Genital infections
• Upper respiratory tract infections (URI)
• Increased urination
• Dyslipidemia
• Joint pain
• Nausea

Januvia:

• Upper respiratory tract infection (URI)
• Runny nose and congestion
• Headache

Januvia and Jardiance drug interactions and warnings

Januvia and Jardiance each have interactions that must be considered before being prescribed. Januvia can lower blood sugar too much when combined with a sulfonylurea or insulin. This is a condition known as hypoglycemia, and it can be very serious. It is also not recommended to use Januvia in combination with a GLP-1 agonist drug such as Ozempic because there is no added benefit due to their redundant mechanisms of action. Januvia has been linked to rare cases of severe, acute pancreatitis, according to the American Diabetes Association. Januvia should not be used in Type 1 diabetics, children, or pregnant women.

Jardiance can also lower blood sugar too much when combined with other oral diabetic medications, insulins, and GLP-1 agonists. Many times, diabetes requires more than one agent for treatment, but you must monitor for hypoglycemia when combining or adding new medications. Jardiance also interacts with other drug categories, and your prescriber needs to be aware of all medications you take, whether prescription or over-the-counter, before prescribing Jardiance. Other drugs that interact with Jardiance include angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors such as lisinopril or fosinopril, which are used for high blood pressure. Other hypertension medication classes, such as angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) and diuretics, should be used cautiously as they can increase Jardiance’s ability to lower blood sugar, therefore adding to the risk of hypoglycemia. Jardiance should not be used in Type 1 diabetics, those at risk for ketoacidosis, children younger than 10, or pregnant persons.

RELATED: Is it safe to take Januvia and Jardiance together?

Bottom line: Januvia vs. Jardiance

Januvia and Jardiance are both FDA approved to help manage blood sugar in people with Type 2 diabetes. Jardiance has also been approved to treat CKD and heart disease. Additionally, children ages 10 and older can use Jardiance for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, while Januvia is only for adults. 

Both Januvia and Jardiance have proven effective at helping people with Type 2 diabetes keep their blood sugar levels under control in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise. Jardiance also has cardioprotective effects, but it has more side effects.

Only a healthcare professional can advise you on which diabetes medication, Januvia or Jardiance, is right for you.