Invokana Versus Januvia For Type 2 Diabetes

Brand Name: Invokana                                        Brand Name: Januvia
Generic Name: canagliflozin                                Generic Name: sitagliptin
Medication Class: SGLT-2 Inhibitor                     Medication Class: DPP-4 Inhibitor
Manufacturer: Janssen Pharmaceutical, Inc.      Manufacturer: Merk Sharp & Dohme Corp.
FDA Approval Date: 2013                                   FDA Approval Date: 2006

Invokana (canagliflozin) vs Januvia (sitagliptin)

Invokana and Januvia are approved medications for the treatment of type 2 Diabetes. There are several types of medications used to treat type 2 Diabetes. Healthcare providers and patients are interested in the most effective options for managing blood glucose and preventing complications of diabetes. Often times, practitioners have to choose between prescribing Invokana or Januvia. Here is a comparison of the efficacy, side effects, mechanism of action, and drug interactions of Januvia and Invokana based on a comparative study.

Invokana is part of the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2 Inhibitor) class of medications which also includes Farxiga (dapagliflozin), and Jardiance (empagliflozin). Januvia is part of the DPP-4 enzyme inhibitor class which also includes Onglyza (saxagliptin), Tradjenta (linagliptin), and Nesina (alogliptin).

Mechanism of action of Invokana and Januvia?

Invokana is an SGLT-2 Inhibitor that allows glucose to be more easily excreted by the kidneys. This is done by inhibiting the reabsorption of glucose in the renal tubules. 

Januvia is a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) enzyme inhibitor. The enzyme DPP-4 metabolizes two proteins (incretin hormones) found in the body, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP). Incretin hormones tell the body to release insulin and lower blood glucose. GLP-1 also decreases the production of glucose and slows down the absorption of glucose. GIP and GLP-1 hormones are released in response to food to balance glucose levels in the blood. Therefore, inhibiting DPP-4 enzyme will allow more GIP and GLP-1 hormones to remain in the body to run their natural course of balancing blood glucose levels by increasing insulin release and decreasing glucagon levels. Glucagon is a hormone that increases the release of glucose from the liver.

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