Jardiance vs Januvia: SGLT2 vs DPP-4 Tablets | Dose Track
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[Diabetes · Comparison]

Jardiance vs Januvia: how do the two diabetes tablets differ?

Mechanism · Approved uses · Dosing · Warnings

Short answer: Jardiance (empagliflozin) makes the kidneys pass sugar into the urine; Januvia (sitagliptin) helps the body's own gut hormones last longer.12 Both are once-daily tablets for type 2 diabetes, but only Jardiance is also approved for heart failure, kidney disease and lowering cardiovascular death.1 In one 24-week trial, each lowered HbA1c by about 0.7% to 0.85% more than placebo.3

How do Jardiance and Januvia compare side by side?

From the US Jardiance and Januvia labels; trial rows from Roden 2013.
Jardiance (empagliflozin)Januvia (sitagliptin)
Drug classSGLT2 inhibitor1DPP-4 inhibitor2
Approved forHeart failure; chronic kidney disease; lowering cardiovascular death in type 2 diabetes with heart disease; blood sugar in type 2 diabetes from age 101Blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes2
Label dosing10 mg once a day in the morning; for blood sugar may go to 25 mg1100 mg once a day; 50 mg or 25 mg with lower kidney function2
Kidney limitNot for blood sugar control when eGFR is under 301Dose lowered when eGFR is under 452
Half-lifeAbout 12.4 hours1About 12.4 hours2
Time to peak1.5 hours11 to 4 hours2
Most common side effects (5% or more)Urinary tract infections and female genital yeast infections1Upper respiratory infection, stuffy or runny nose and sore throat, headache2
Before surgeryHold at least 3 days, if possible, because of ketoacidosis risk1No such instruction in the dosing section2
HbA1c vs placebo, 24 weeks (Roden 2013)−0.74% (10 mg) and −0.85% (25 mg)3−0.73% (100 mg)3

Reviewed . Half-life figures are shown only where the value Dose Track uses agrees with the cited source.

How does each lower blood sugar?

Jardiance blocks SGLT2 in the kidneys, so more sugar leaves in the urine. That is also why its common side effects are urinary and genital infections.1 Januvia blocks DPP-4, the enzyme that breaks down the gut hormones GLP-1 and GIP, which help the body release insulin after meals.2

Have they been tested in the same trial?

Yes, but against placebo. Roden and colleagues randomized 899 adults with type 2 diabetes who had not taken diabetes medicine in the previous 12 weeks to placebo, empagliflozin 10 mg, empagliflozin 25 mg or sitagliptin 100 mg for 24 weeks. Compared with placebo, HbA1c fell 0.74%, 0.85% and 0.73% more.3 The abstract reports each drug against placebo, not a direct test of one drug against the other.

Side effects of any kind were reported by 55% (10 mg), 60% (25 mg) and 53% (sitagliptin), vs 61% on placebo.3 The trial was paid for by the makers of empagliflozin.3

Why is only Jardiance approved beyond blood sugar?

Jardiance has outcome trials in heart and kidney disease, including EMPA-REG OUTCOME in 7,020 adults with type 2 diabetes and heart disease, and the label lists those uses.1 The Januvia label is for blood sugar only, and warns that heart failure was seen in outcome trials of two other drugs in its class.2

More detail: Jardiance side effects, the Jardiance dosing schedule, and the Empagliflozin and Sitagliptin guides.

Januvia vs Ozempic: how do sitagliptin and semaglutide compare?Daily DPP-4 tablet vs weekly GLP-1 shot Jardiance vs Farxiga: how do the two SGLT2 tablets compare?Empagliflozin vs dapagliflozin, from the labels Metformin vs Jardiance: how do the two diabetes tablets differ?Biguanide vs SGLT2 tablet, plus the combination trial Ozempic vs Jardiance: how do they differ for type 2 diabetes?Weekly GLP-1 pen vs daily SGLT2 tablet

Frequently asked questions

Can Jardiance and Januvia be taken together?+
They work in different ways, but whether to combine them is a decision for your prescriber; this page does not cover using them together.
Which lowers HbA1c more?+
In the one trial that tested both, each was compared with placebo: HbA1c fell 0.74% and 0.85% more on empagliflozin 10 and 25 mg, and 0.73% more on sitagliptin, over 24 weeks. The abstract does not report a direct test between them.3
Do they have the same half-life?+
Yes, by coincidence: both labels give about 12.4 hours.12
Why should Jardiance be stopped before surgery?+
Because of ketoacidosis risk, which can happen with near-normal blood sugar. The label says to hold it at least 3 days before surgery or long fasting, if possible.1
Can I track both in Dose Track?+
Yes. Log each daily tablet with reminders, and keep your data on your phone.

Sources

  1. Jardiance (empagliflozin) tablets prescribing information, sections 1, 2, 3, 6.1, 8.6, 12.3 and 14. DailyMed, version of January 2026.
  2. Januvia (sitagliptin) tablets prescribing information, sections 1, 2, 3, 5, 6.1, 12.3 and 14. DailyMed, version 71.
  3. Roden M, et al. Empagliflozin monotherapy with sitagliptin as an active comparator in patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2013;1:208-219.

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