| Diabetes Mellitus, Non-Insulin-Dependent
Janumet vs Welchol
Side-by-side clinical, coverage, and cost comparison for diabetes mellitus, non-insulin-dependent.Deep comparison between: Janumet vs Welchol with Prescriber.AI
AI compares prescribing info and payer-specific access barriers across 1,200+ formularies. Here's a preview of what prescribers are already asking.Safety signalsWelchol has a higher rate of injection site reactions vs Janumet based on FDA-approved prescribing information
Coverage gaps3 major payers require step therapy for Welchol but not Janumet, including UnitedHealthcare
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Category
Janumet
Welchol
At A Glance
Oral
Twice daily
DPP-4 inhibitor / biguanide combination
Oral
Daily
Bile acid sequestrant
Indications
- Diabetes Mellitus, Non-Insulin-Dependent
- Familial hyperlipidemia
- Familial hypercholesterolemia - heterozygous
- Diabetes Mellitus, Non-Insulin-Dependent
Dosing
Diabetes Mellitus, Non-Insulin-Dependent 50 mg sitagliptin/500 mg metformin HCl twice daily with meals as starting dose for patients not on metformin; for patients on metformin HCl 850 mg twice daily, start at 50 mg sitagliptin/1000 mg metformin HCl twice daily; max 100 mg sitagliptin/2000 mg metformin HCl daily; do not split or divide tablets.
Familial hyperlipidemia, Familial hypercholesterolemia - heterozygous 3.75 grams daily; 6 tablets once daily or 3 tablets twice daily with a meal and liquid, or one packet oral suspension once daily with a meal.
Diabetes Mellitus, Non-Insulin-Dependent 3.75 grams daily; 6 tablets once daily or 3 tablets twice daily with a meal and liquid, or one packet oral suspension once daily with a meal.
Contraindications
- Severe renal impairment (eGFR below 30 mL/min/1.73 m2)
- Acute or chronic metabolic acidosis, including diabetic ketoacidosis
- History of a serious hypersensitivity reaction to JANUMET, sitagliptin, or metformin, such as anaphylaxis or angioedema
- Serum TG concentrations >500 mg/dL
- History of hypertriglyceridemia-induced pancreatitis
- History of bowel obstruction
Adverse Reactions
Most common (>=5%) Diarrhea, upper respiratory tract infection, headache, nasopharyngitis, nausea/vomiting, flatulence, abdominal discomfort, indigestion, asthenia
Serious Lactic acidosis, pancreatitis, heart failure, acute renal failure, hypoglycemia (with sulfonylurea or insulin), hypersensitivity reactions, severe and disabling arthralgia, bullous pemphigoid
Postmarketing Anaphylaxis, angioedema, rash, urticaria, cutaneous vasculitis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, hepatic enzyme elevations, fatal and non-fatal hemorrhagic and necrotizing pancreatitis, worsening renal function, acute renal failure, tubulointerstitial nephritis, rhabdomyolysis, constipation, myalgia, back pain, pruritus, mouth ulceration, cholestatic and hepatocellular liver injury
Most common (>=2%) Constipation, dyspepsia, nausea, asthenia, pharyngitis, myalgia (primary hyperlipidemia); constipation, dyspepsia, nausea, hypertension, back pain (type 2 diabetes)
Serious Hypertriglyceridemia, pancreatitis, gastrointestinal obstruction, vitamin K and fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies
Postmarketing Bowel obstruction, dysphagia, esophageal obstruction, fecal impaction, pancreatitis, hypertriglyceridemia, increased transaminases
Pharmacology
Sitagliptin is a DPP-4 inhibitor that slows inactivation of incretin hormones GLP-1 and GIP, increasing insulin release and decreasing glucagon in a glucose-dependent manner; metformin is a biguanide that decreases hepatic glucose production, reduces intestinal glucose absorption, and improves peripheral insulin sensitivity by increasing glucose uptake and utilization.
Colesevelam hydrochloride is a non-absorbed bile acid sequestrant that binds bile acids in the intestine, depletes the bile acid pool, upregulates hepatic cholesterol 7-alpha-hydroxylase, increases LDL receptor expression, and thereby lowers serum LDL-C; the mechanism by which it improves glycemic control in type 2 diabetes is unknown.
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Most Common Insurance
Anthem BCBS
Janumet
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (1/12) · Step Therapy (9/12) · Qty limit (11/12)
Welchol
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (10/12) · Step Therapy (0/12) · Qty limit (9/12)
UnitedHealthcare
Janumet
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (0/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (2/8)
Welchol
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (0/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (0/8)
Humana
Janumet
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (1/3) · Step Therapy (1/3) · Qty limit (3/3)
Welchol
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (1/3) · Step Therapy (0/3) · Qty limit (2/3)
Coverage data sourced from MMIT. Updated monthly.
Savings
No savings programs available for Janumet.
No savings programs available for Welchol.
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JanumetView full Janumet profile
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Clinical data sourced from FDA-approved labeling. Coverage data via MMIT. Updated monthly.