Is it safe to take Januvia and Jardiance together?

In this article:

• Can you take Januvia and Jardiance together?
• Taking Januvia and Jardiance together
• Is Januvia or Jardiance better?

In this article

• Can you take Januvia and Jardiance together?
• Taking Januvia and Jardiance together
• Is Januvia or Jardiance better?

Januvia and Jardiance are two commonly prescribed oral medications used for Type 2 diabetes.

Januvia is made by Merck Sharp & Dohme and is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use along with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control (glycemic control) in adults with Type 2 diabetes. It contains the active ingredient sitagliptin and is part of a drug class called dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. Other examples of drugs in this class include Nesina (alogliptin) and Tradjenta (linagliptin). Januvia works by increasing insulin (which lowers blood sugar) and decreasing glucagon (which raises blood sugar). 

Jardiance contains the active ingredient empagliflozin and is part of a drug class called sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. Other examples of drugs in this class include Farxiga (dapagliflozin) and Invokana (canagliflozin). It works by helping the kidneys eliminate sugar through the urine. Jardiance is made by Boehringer Ingelheim and has several FDA approvals, which include:

• To improve blood sugar control in adults and children 10 years and older with Type 2 diabetes, along with diet and exercise
• To lower the risk of cardiovascular death and heart failure hospitalization in adults with heart failure
• To lower the risk of worsening kidney disease, cardiovascular death, and hospitalization in adults with chronic kidney disease at risk of progression
• To lower the risk of cardiovascular death in adults with Type 2 diabetes who also have cardiovascular disease

Januvia and Jardiance are both prescribed for Type 2 diabetes, but they are not the same. Both have unique ways of controlling blood sugar.

Can you take Januvia and Jardiance together?

Yes, healthcare providers may prescribe Jardiance and Januvia together to help achieve better blood sugar control. Your healthcare provider will need to know your full medical history and all of your medical conditions when determining whether to take one drug alone or both drugs together. To ensure there are no drug interactions, they will also need to know about all the medications you take, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and supplements. 

One clinical trial found that combining a DPP-4 inhibitor with an SGLT2 inhibitor was an effective treatment for lowering and maintaining blood sugar levels. The drugs were well-tolerated and did not cause weight gain or low blood sugar.

Experts explain that because Type 2 diabetes is a complex condition, using combination therapy with antidiabetes drugs that work in different ways can significantly lower blood sugar levels. They note that an SGLT2 inhibitor and DPP-4 inhibitor can produce a powerful lowering of hemoglobin A1C (the long-term measure of blood glucose control). 

Although there are many combination drugs for diabetes that combine drugs from two or three drug classes, there is not a combination drug that specifically combines Januvia with Jardiance. However, various drugs combine a DPP-4 inhibitor with an SGLT2 inhibitor. One example is Steglujan, which combines sitagliptin (the ingredient in Januvia) with an SGLT2 inhibitor called ertugliflozin. Another example is Trijardy XR, which combines empagliflozin (the ingredient in Jardiance) with metformin and a DPP-4 inhibitor called linagliptin.

According to American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines, metformin is often a first-choice drug for Type 2 diabetes. It is effective, well-tolerated, and reasonably priced. Some people will need combination therapy (more than one drug) right away, while others may need it later on. Some people may need injectable insulin or an injectable diabetes drug like Ozempic (semaglutide), which is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist.

Some of the additional indications of Jardiance may factor into the healthcare provider’s prescribing decisions. For example, an individual with heart failure may be started on combination therapy with metformin and Jardiance, because Jardiance offers additional protection for people with heart failure. There are also other factors to consider, such as weight loss if needed, hemoglobin A1C levels, cost, potential side effects, and other risks. 

As always, your healthcare professional can provide appropriate medical advice on the best treatment for you.

Taking Januvia and Jardiance together

If you are prescribed both Januvia and Jardiance, you may want to know the best way to take these medications.

According to the prescribing information, Januvia should be taken once daily, with or without food. No specific time is noted. 

Jardiance should be taken once daily in the morning, with or without food. 

Since Jardiance must be taken in the morning, you can take both medications together in the morning, with or without food. Or, if you prefer, you can take Jardiance in the morning and Januvia at a different time. The important thing is to stay consistent and remember to take your medications every day—so it may be easiest to take the two medications together. The drugs do not interact and are safe to take together at the same time.

You should also consult with your healthcare provider to see if there are any specific recommendations for use that they want you to follow. You’ll also want to ask about checking your blood glucose levels and what to do if you have low or high blood sugar.

Is Januvia or Jardiance better?

Both Januvia and Jardiance are available as oral tablets and are taken once daily. Because they are in different drug classes, they have different side effects. Common Januvia side effects include stuffy or runny nose, headache, nausea, and diarrhea. Common side effects of Jardiance include excess urination, urinary tract infections (UTIs), genital yeast infection (male or female), upper respiratory infection, high cholesterol, and joint pain. Serious side effects can occur with either drug. 

*Price at the time of publishing. Drug prices vary by pharmacy, dosage, and more.

There is not one “better” drug. Which drug is more appropriate for you depends on various individual factors, such as your medical conditions (including whether you are pregnant or breastfeeding), your medical history, other medications you take, and more. The right drug for you might not be the right drug for someone else. In some cases, when considering Januvia and Jardiance, healthcare providers may choose one or the other—or even a different drug from the same class or from another class. In other cases, they may determine that both Januvia and Jardiance (or another DPP-4 inhibitor with another SGLT2 inhibitor) are needed. There are many diabetes drugs available, so your healthcare provider will take many factors into consideration to determine which drug is best for you.