Tradjenta vs. Amaryl

Tradjenta (linagliptin) and Amaryl (glimepiride) 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 Amaryl that are similar include headache and low blood sugar.

Side effects of Tradjenta that are different from Amaryl include stuffy nose, runny nose, sore throat, cough, weight gain, muscle or joint pain, and back pain.

Side effects of Amaryl that are different from Tradjenta include nausea, upset stomach, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, tiredness, increased skin sensitivity to sunlight, itching, or skin rash.

Both Tradjenta and Amaryl may interact with seizure medications, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), aspirin or other salicylates (including Pepto-Bismol), sulfa drugs, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), or beta-blockers.

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, probenecid, or other oral diabetes medications.

Amaryl may also interact with isoniazid, diuretics (water pills), steroids, phenothiazines, thyroid medicines, birth control pills and other hormones, diet pills, medicines to treat asthma, cold or allergy medicines, clarithromycin, disopyramide, fluoxetine, antibiotics, blood thinners, albuterol, clonidine, or reserpine.

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 Amaryl include:

• nausea,
• upset stomach,
• stomach pain,
• vomiting,
• diarrhea,
• dizziness,
• headache,
• tiredness,
• increased skin sensitivity to sunlight,
• itching, or
• skin rash.

Amaryl can cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Symptoms of low blood sugar include sudden sweating, shaking, fast heartbeat, hunger, blurred vision, dizziness, or tingling hands/feet.

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

Amaryl (glimepiride) is an oral diabetes medicine used together with diet and exercise to treat type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes. Insulin or other diabetes medicines are sometimes used in combination with Amaryl if needed.

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.

Amaryl with drugs that raise blood sugar, such as: isoniazid, diuretics (water pills), steroids, phenothiazines, thyroid medicine, birth control pills and other hormones, seizure medicines, and diet pills, or medicines to treat asthma, colds or allergies. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) may result if you take Amaryl with drugs that lower blood sugar, such as: clarithromycin, disopyramide, fluoxetine, antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), aspirin or other salicylates, blood thinners, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), or sulfa drugs. It may also interact with albuterol, clonidine, reserpine, or beta-blockers. Tell your doctor all medications you use.

The recommended dose of Tradjenta is 5 mg once daily.

The recommended starting dose of Amaryl is 1 mg or 2 mg once daily. The maximum recommended dose is 8 mg once daily.