Compare Januvia vs. Precose
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.
Lowers your blood sugar.
Januvia (sitagliptin) is a good add-on treatment if your blood sugars are not controlled and you don't want to use an injectable medicine.
●●●●●
3.2/ 5 average rating with 143 reviewsforJanuvia
Lowers blood sugar.
Precose (acarbose) helps lower your post-mealtime blood sugar levels, but it must be taken at the beginning of each main meal in order for it to be most effective.
Upsides
- Oral blood sugar-lowering medicine.
- Januvia (sitagliptin) is not linked to worsening heart failure like other medicines in its class.
- Uses the hormones naturally produced by your body to affect how sugar is processed.
- It is less likely to cause weight gain and low blood sugar compared to other diabetes medicines.
- Precose (acarbose) helps control meal-time blood sugar levels without causing weight gain.
- When used alone it doesn't normally cause blood sugar levels to be too low unlike other anti-diabetes medicines.
- Safe to be used in people age 65 or older.
- Has relatively few interactions with other medicines.
Downsides
- Lowers A1c (average blood sugar over time) by less than 1%.
- Available as brand version only.
- Some people might get frequent cold-like symptoms.
- Rare but serious side effects include pancreatitis and severe joint pain.
- Not a first choice medicine because it isn't as effective at lowering blood sugar compared to other treatment options.
- Associated with bothersome side effects like excessive gas and diarrhea.
- Relatively more expensive than other diabetes medicines.
- Has to be taken three times a day with each meal.
- Might cause episodes of low blood sugar when taken together with insulin or medicines that stimulate insulin release.
Used for
Dosage forms
- Pill
- Pill
Price
Lowest price
$455.09
Find instant savings near youLowest price
$21.35
Find instant savings near youWant to save even more money?
Sign up now for a 30-day trial and save up to 95% at CVS, Kroger, Albertsons, and other pharmacies.
Learn more
Reviews
143 reviews so far
44%
saidit'sworth it
34%
saiditworked well
17%
saidit'sa big hassle
Have you used Januvia (sitagliptin)?
Leave a reviewNot enough review data.Leave a review
Side effects
Risks and risk factors
- Death from inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
- History of pancreatitis
- High blood triglyceride levels
- Gallstones (stones in gallbladder)
- History of alchoholism
- Kidney problems
- Serious allergic reactions
- Kidney damage
- Pre-existing kidney damage
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
- Taking medicines for diabetes
- Severe joint pain and swelling
- Low blood sugar
- Using insulin or other medicines that stimulate insulin release
- Kidney function
- Those with kidney problems
- Interactions with other medicines
- Taking multiple medicines together