Januvia is a once-daily tablet treatment that, alongside diet and exercise, works to reduce your blood sugar levels. It can be taken on its own (monotherapy) or with other medicines, such as metformin, where monotherapy hasn’t proved to have been enough to maintain good blood sugar levels.
Januvia is only a suitable treatment for type-2 diabetes – a condition that usually occurs in adulthood as a result of your body not producing enough insulin, or not using the insulin that it does produce as well as it should do.
How does Januvia work?
Januvia belongs to a class of medicines called DPP-4 inhibitors, which work by increasing the amount of insulin that your body produces after a meal, as well as lowering the amount of sugar that your body produces. It does this by preventing the break-down of ‘incretin’ hormones in your body – which stimulate the release of insulin when you eat.[1]
By increasing the amount of incretin hormones in your body, your pancreas can produce more insulin for longer, making you better able to process the sugar that you eat and reduce your blood sugar levels. Sitagliptin (the active ingredient in Januvia) also decreases the amount of glucose made by your liver, which also helps to reduce your blood sugar.
What doses of Januvia are there?
Januvia is available in three doses: 25mg, 50mg and 100mg. The dose that you’ll be prescribed will depend on your condition and health history. Typically you’ll take the 100mg dose once a day, unless you have any kidney problems.
Treated trusted source:
Anonymous (2018). Januvia – European Medicines Agency. European Medicines Agency.
This page was written by The Treated Content Team.
This page was medically reviewed by Dr. Joseph Palumbo on January 07, 2025. Next review due on January 07, 2028.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
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How to take Januvia
You should always use Januvia exactly as prescribed by our doctor. Take your prescribed dose (usually one tablet) whole with a glass of water. You can take it with or without food.
How long does it take Januvia to work?
You might see your blood sugar drop after just a few weeks of taking it, but type-2 diabetes treatments like Januvia are often long-term treatments.
Because diabetes doesn’t always give you any symptoms, you might not feel any better from taking Januvia, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not working to reduce your blood sugar.
What should I do if I make a mistake when taking Januvia?
If you accidentally take more Januvia than you should’ve done, seek medical help straight away.
If you forget to take your dose of Januvia, take it when you remember. If you don’t remember until it’s nearly time for your next dose, skip the forgotten dose and continue as normal. Don’t double up on doses to make up for missed ones.
This page was written by The Treated Content Team.
This page was medically reviewed by Dr. Joseph Palumbo on January 07, 2025. Next review due on January 07, 2028.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
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Januvia isn’t suitable for everyone, and there are some things that you need to be aware of when taking it.
Here’s all the official info on it. If anything is unclear, let our doctor know, and they can talk with you about it.
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Januvia: FAQ
Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.
How effective is Januvia?
Answer:
In a clinical study in which patients completed two years of treatment with sitagliptin, the active ingredient in Januvia, as monotherapy or as an additional medication to metformin, improvements in blood glucose control and beta cell function were seen.[1]
How is Januvia different from other diabetes treatments?
Answer:
Diabetes treatments can take a range of types and forms. Typically you’ll start on metformin, but if metformin isn’t suitable for you or doesn’t work as hoped to control your blood sugar, then you might be prescribed with additional or alternative treatments.
Different types of treatments will work in different ways in your body to reduce your blood sugar, and you might find certain ones suit you better than others. You can also get some treatments as injections, such as Victoza or Byetta.
Is Januvia similar to any other treatments?
Answer:
Although there are other DPP-4 inhibitors that you can get to help you control your blood sugar, there is only one other treatment that contains sitagliptin on its own – Zituvio. As both these treatments contain the same active ingredient, and they’re both tablets, they’ll work pretty similarly. The one you choose is up to you.
In terms of combination treatments, Janumet and Zituvimet both contain sitagliptin alongside metformin, which you might find easier to take if you’re prescribed metformin alongside sitagliptin, so that you don’t have to take two different tablets.
Which dose of Januvia should I use?
Answer:
The standard dose of Januvia is 100mg a day, but you might be prescribed a lower dose if your health requires it, such as if you have a kidney problem. Our doctor can advise you of the best dose for you once you’ve talked to us about your health.
Do I need a prescription for Januvia?
Answer:
Yes, you need a prescription for Januvia. This is because it isn’t suitable for everyone, and your blood sugar levels will need to be monitored whilst you’re using it to make sure that it carries on being safe and effective for you.
Our experts continually monitor new findings in health and medicine, and we update our articles when new info becomes available.
Jan 07, 2025
Published by: The Treated Content Team.Medically reviewed by: Dr. Joseph Palumbo, Senior Medical Adviser
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
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Dr. Joseph Palumbo
Senior Medical Adviser
Joseph joined Treated in 2023, and is one of the lead doctors providing prescribing services for the platform.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
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