Tradjenta vs. Onglyza

Tradjenta (linagliptin) and Onglyza (saxagliptin) are oral diabetes medicines used as adjuncts to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Side effects of Tradjenta and Onglyza that are similar include runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, cough, and headache.

Side effects of Tradjenta that are different from Onglyza include weight gain, muscle or joint pain, back pain, or low blood sugar.

Side effects of Onglyza that are different from Tradjenta include stomach pain.

Both Tradjenta and Onglyza may interact with other oral diabetes medications.

Tradjenta may also interact with bosentan, dexamethasone, ketoconazole, quinidine, verapamil, rifabutin, rifampin, rifapentine, St. John's wort, barbiturates, medication to treat HIV/AIDS, medicines to treat narcolepsy, medicines used to prevent organ transplant rejection, seizure medications, probenecid, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), aspirin or other salicylates (including Pepto-Bismol), sulfa drugs, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), and beta-blockers.

Onglyza may also interact with some antibiotics, HIV/AIDS medications, itraconazole, and nefazodone.

Common side effects of Tradjenta include:

• stuffy nose,
• runny nose,
• sore throat,
• cough,
• weight gain,
• muscle or joint pain,
• headache,
• back pain, or
• low blood sugar.

Tradjenta may cause serious side effects, including:

• inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis, symptoms include severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting,
• loss of appetite,
• fast heart rate),
• fever, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash.

Common side effects of Onglyza include:

• runny or stuffy nose,
• sore throat,
• cough,
• headache, or
• stomach pain.

Onglyza by itself usually does not cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), but low blood sugar may occur if this drug is prescribed with other anti-diabetic medications. Symptoms of low blood sugar include sudden sweating, shaking, fast heartbeat, hunger, blurred vision, dizziness, or tingling hands/feet. Get medical help if you have very serious side effects of Onglyza including:

• signs of disease of the pancreas (such as severe stomach or abdominal pain which may spread to the back, or persistent nausea or vomiting).

Tradjenta (linagliptin) tablets are indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Onglyza (saxagliptin) is an orally-active inhibitor of the DPP4 enzyme used either alone or with other medications, and with a proper diet and exercise program, to control high blood sugar. Onglyza is used in people with type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes.

Tradjenta may interact with bosentan, dexamethasone, ketoconazole, quinidine, verapamil, rifabutin, rifampin, rifapentine, St. John's wort, phenobarbital and other barbiturates, medication to treat HIV or AIDS, medicines to treat narcolepsy, medicines used to prevent organ transplant rejection, seizure medications, probenecid, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), aspirin or other salicylates (including Pepto-Bismol), sulfa drugs, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), beta-blockers, or other oral diabetes medications. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant before using Tradjenta; it is not expected to harm an unborn baby. It is unknown if Tradjenta passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Onglyza may interact with tazanavir, clarithromycin, indinavir, itraconazole, nefazodone, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir, and telithromycin. Low blood sugar may occur if this drug is prescribed with other anti-diabetes medications. During pregnancy, Onglyza should be used only when prescribed. Pregnancy may cause or worsen diabetes. Your doctor may change your diabetes treatment during your pregnancy. It is unknown if this medication passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

The recommended dose of Tradjenta is 5 mg once daily.

The recommended dose of Onglyza is 2.5 mg or 5 mg once daily taken regardless of meals.