Short answer: Both tablets contain a DPP-4 inhibitor.12 Glyxambi pairs linagliptin with empagliflozin, an SGLT2 inhibitor, and is taken once daily in the morning. Janumet pairs sitagliptin with metformin and is taken twice daily with meals. Janumet has a boxed warning for lactic acidosis from metformin; Glyxambi has none. Neither label reports a trial against the other.
| Glyxambi | Janumet | |
|---|---|---|
| What it combines | Empagliflozin (SGLT2 inhibitor) and linagliptin (DPP-4 inhibitor)1 | Sitagliptin (DPP-4 inhibitor) and metformin2 |
| Approved for | Blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes; the empagliflozin part also lowers heart death in adults with established heart disease1 | Blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes2 |
| How taken | 10 mg/5 mg once daily in the morning, with or without food; may go to 25 mg/5 mg1 | Twice daily with meals; up to sitagliptin 100 mg and metformin 2,000 mg a day2 |
| Kidney limits | Not recommended with an eGFR below 301 | Not used with an eGFR below 30; not recommended at 30 to under 452 |
| Side effects in label trials | Urinary tract infection 12.5% on 10 mg/5 mg, upper respiratory infection 7.0% (no placebo group)1 | Diarrhea 7.5% vs 4.0% on placebo, headache 5.9% vs 2.8%2 |
| Boxed warning | None1 | Lactic acidosis2 |
Because both contain a DPP-4 inhibitor, both labels list pancreatitis, heart failure seen with two other DPP-4 inhibitors, serious allergic reactions, severe joint pain and bullous pemphigoid.12 Glyxambi adds the empagliflozin warnings: ketoacidosis, fluid loss, urinary and genital infections including Fournier's gangrene, and lower limb amputation.1 Janumet adds the metformin warnings: lactic acidosis and lower vitamin B12.2 These numbers come from separate trials with different people, lengths and methods, so they are not a head-to-head comparison.
Which, if either, fits is for your prescriber. More detail: Glyxambi side effects, Janumet side effects, and the Glyxambi and Janumet dosing schedules.