Farxiga vs. Jardiance: 6 Things to Know When Comparing These SGLT2 Inhibitors
Key takeaways:
Farxiga (dapagliflozin) and Jardiance (empagliflozin) are two sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. They both treat Type 2 diabetes, kidney disease, and heart failure.
While Farxiga and Jardiance are similar, they have a few notable differences. There are slight differences in the wording of their FDA-approved uses. And Farxiga is available as a generic medication, while Jardiance is only available as a brand-name medication.
There are ways to save on Farxiga and Jardiance. GoodRx can help you access brand-name Farxiga at an exclusive cash price of $288. Manufacturer savings cards and patient assistance programs are also available for both Farxiga and Jardiance.
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Table of contents
The first sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor was FDA approved in 2013. Since then, several more have come to market. The two most popular SGLT2 inhibitors are Farxiga (dapagliflozin) and Jardiance (empagliflozin).
These medications were originally studied and approved to treat Type 2 diabetes. But they have also been shown to help slow kidney damage and lower the risk of complications from heart failure.
So are there any differences between these SGLT2 inhibitors? Farxiga and Jardiance have a lot in common at first glance. But there are a few distinctions to keep in mind.
Farxiga vs. Jardiance overview
While Farxiga and Jardiance have much in common, there are a few differences to know about. The table below highlights how they compare.
| Farxiga | Jardiance | |
|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient | Dapagliflozin | Empagliflozin |
| Is a generic available? | Yes | No |
| Medication class | SGLT2 inhibitor | SGLT2 inhibitor |
| FDA-approved uses* |
|
|
| Typical dosage | 5-10 mg once a day | 10-25 mg once a day |
| Common side effects |
|
|
| Drug interactions |
|
|
* In general, Farxiga and Jardiance can be used for the same conditions. But there are slight differences in the wording of their FDA-approved uses.
Below, we’ll go into more detail about six ways Farxiga and Jardiance compare.
1. Farxiga and Jardiance work in the same way
SGLT2 inhibitors, such as Farxiga and Jardiance, all work in the same way. They block the SGLT2 protein in your kidneys. This protein normally helps reabsorb sugar (glucose) and sodium (salt) back into your bloodstream.
More about SGLT2 inhibitors: Farxiga (dapagliflozin) and Jardiance (empagliflozin) both belong to this medication class. Read more about common sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors.
What’s it like to take Jardiance? Three people share their Jardiance stories.
Diabetes medications and body weight: SGLT2 inhibitors can lead to modest weight loss for some people. Read more about diabetes medications and their impact on body weight.
This action has unique effects for different health conditions:
Type 2 diabetes: SGLT2 inhibitors help lower blood sugar by removing excess glucose from the bloodstream through urine.
Kidney disease: SGLT2 inhibitors help take stress off the kidneys by removing excess sugar and sodium from the bloodstream. They may also help prevent kidney damage by lowering pressure in the blood vessels around the kidneys.
Heart failure: It’s not clear how SGLT2 inhibitors help manage heart failure. But we do know that they can lower the risk of complications and death from heart failure. Experts think removing excess sugar and sodium from the bloodstream helps take strain off the heart. It’s also possible that SGLT2 inhibitors may reduce heart inflammation and stop the heart from changing shape over time.
Keep in mind that Farxiga and Jardiance have different active ingredients. Farxiga contains dapagliflozin. And Jardiance contains empagliflozin. So they’re not interchangeable, even though they work the same way.
2. Farxiga and Jardiance have similar FDA-approved uses
Generally speaking, Farxiga and Jardiance can be prescribed for the same health conditions. They both have FDA-approved uses for Type 2 diabetes, kidney disease, and heart failure. But there are slight differences in how their FDA approvals are worded.
Compared to Jardiance, Farxiga’s approval language has a few additional points when it comes to heart failure. This is because of how the clinical trials for each medication were conducted. The differences in wording are bolded in the lists below.
To lower the risk of worsening kidney function, end-stage kidney disease, heart-related death, and hospitalization for heart failure in adults with chronic kidney disease that’s likely to worsen
To lower the risk of heart-related death, hospitalization for heart failure, and urgent heart failure visit in adults with heart failure
To lower the risk of hospitalization for heart failure in adults with Type 2 diabetes and either established heart disease or multiple heart-related risk factors
To lower blood sugar in adults and children ages 10 and older with Type 2 diabetes when combined with a diabetes-friendly diet and routine exercise
To lower the risk of worsening kidney function, end-stage kidney disease, heart-related death, and hospitalization in adults with chronic kidney disease that’s likely to worsen
To lower the risk of heart-related death and hospitalization for heart failure in adults with heart failure
To lower the risk of heart-related death in adults with Type 2 diabetes and established heart disease
To lower blood sugar in adults and children ages 10 and older with Type 2 diabetes when combined with a diabetes-friendly diet and routine exercise
Your prescriber can help determine which medication might be better for you based on these differences.
3. The typical dosages for Farxiga and Jardiance are similar
The recommended dosages for Farxiga and Jardiance are similar. With either one, you’ll take 1 tablet by mouth once a day in the morning. Farxiga comes as a 5 mg or 10 mg oral tablet. And Jardiance comes as a 10 mg or 25 mg tablet.
You can find the typical dosages of Farxiga and Jardiance for different health conditions in the table below.
Type 2 diabetes | Kidney disease, heart failure, or cardiovascular risk reduction | |
Start with 5 mg once a day. Your prescriber can raise your dosage to 10 mg once a day, if needed, to reach your blood sugar goals. | Take 10 mg once daily. | |
Start with 10 mg once a day. Your prescriber can raise your dosage to 25 mg once a day, if needed, to reach your blood sugar goals. | Take 10 mg once daily. |
Good to know: You may not be able to take Farxiga or Jardiance if you have severe kidney disease. Your prescriber will check your kidney function to determine whether it’s safe for you to take either of these medications. The kidney function cutoffs for the two medications differ slightly.
4. Farxiga and Jardiance have similar side effects
People experience similar side effects with Farxiga and Jardiance. Many of the medications’ common side effects are mild and can be managed at home. Serious side effects are possible but happen very rarely.
Common or mild Farxiga side effects and Jardiance side effects include:
Genital fungal (yeast) infections
Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Urinating more than usual
Nausea
Raised cholesterol
Weight loss
Rare but serious side effects that can happen with either Farxiga or Jardiance include:
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
Dehydration
Serious genital infections
Kidney infections
Ketoacidosis (too much acid in the blood)
These aren’t the only possible side effects of Farxiga and Jardiance. Your healthcare team can provide you with more detailed information for either medication.
5. Farxiga and Jardiance have similar interactions
Since Farxiga and Jardiance work in the same way, it’s not surprising that they interact with the same medications. These interactions typically raise the risk of low blood sugar or dehydration.
The following medications interact with Farxiga and Jardiance:
Diuretics, such as hydrochlorothiazide and furosemide (Lasix)
Sulfonylureas, such as glipizide (Glucotrol XL)
Glinides, such as repaglinide
Lithium (Lithobid)
Be sure to share your current medication list with your prescriber and pharmacist before starting treatment with Farxiga or Jardiance. You should also share an updated list anytime you start a new medication.
6. Farxiga comes in a generic form, while Jardiance is available only as a brand-name medication
Both Farxiga and Jardiance are available as brand-name medications. But Farxiga also has a generic version available. Generic medications work just as well as brand-name medications but often cost less.
Specifically, Farxiga is available as an authorized generic. This means it’s exactly the same as the brand-name version, but with a generic label.
Can you take both Farxiga and Jardiance?
No, you shouldn’t take Farxiga and Jardiance at the same time. They work the same way. And combining them raises the risk of side effects.
If Farxiga or Jardiance isn’t working well enough for you, tell your prescriber. They can suggest medications that are safe to combine with SGLT2 inhibitors. You may even be able to take a combination pill that pairs the active ingredient in Farxiga or Jardiance with another diabetes medication.
How to save on Farxiga and Jardiance
Filling a prescription for Farxiga or Jardiance doesn't have to break the bank. GoodRx can help you navigate ways to save on your prescription.
How to save on Farxiga
There are ways to save on Farxiga, which is available as a brand-name medication and authorized generic. GoodRx can help you navigate between GoodRx coupons, copay savings cards, and patient assistance programs to save money on your prescription:
Save with GoodRx. Anyone with a valid prescription, regardless of insurance status, can purchase a 30-day supply of Farxiga at an exclusive cash price of $288 through GoodRx. GoodRx may also be able to help you save over 40% off the average retail price of generic dapagliflozin.
Save with a copay savings card. If you have commercial insurance, you may be eligible to pay as little as $0 for Farxiga using a savings card from the manufacturer.
Save with a patient assistance program. If you’re uninsured or underinsured, you may be eligible for Farxiga’s patient assistance program, which offers the medication free of charge.
How to save on Jardiance
Here are some ways you can save on Jardiance:
Save with a copay savings card. If you have commercial insurance, you may be eligible to pay as little as $10 for your Jardiance prescription using a savings card from the manufacturer.
Save with a patient assistance program. If you’re uninsured or underinsured, you may be eligible for Jardiance’s patient assistance program, which offers the medication free of cost.
The bottom line
Farxiga (dapagliflozin) and Jardiance (empagliflozin) are both sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. The two medications have many similarities. Farxiga and Jardiance work the same way and generally treat the same health conditions. They also have similar side effects and drug interactions.
Farxiga comes as both a brand-name and generic medication. Jardiance only comes as a brand-name medication. Because of this, they can differ in price and how they’re covered by insurance.
Your prescriber can help determine if either medication is the right option for you.
Why trust our experts?
References
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals. (2024). Farxiga - dapagliflozin tablet, film coated [package insert].
AstraZeneca U.S. Patient Support. (n.d.). Access support options for commercially insured.
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals. (2025). Jardiance - empagliflozin tablet, film coated [package insert].
Cherney, D. Z. I., et al. (2013). Renal hemodynamic effect of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibition in patients with Type 1 diabetes mellitus. Circulation.
ClinCalc. (2021). SGLT-2 inhibitors: Multum therapeutic class comparison, United States, 2022.
Lopaschuk, G. D., et al. (2020). Mechanisms of cardiovascular benefits of Sodium Glucose Co-Transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. JACC: Basic to Translational Science.
National Kidney Foundation. (2024). SGLT2 inhibitors.
Padda, I. S., et al. (2023). Sodium-glucose transport protein 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. StatPearls.
Talha, K. M., et al. (2023). SGLT-2 inhibitors in heart failure: A review of current evidence. International Journal of Heart Failure.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2022). FDA revises labels of SGLT2 inhibitors for diabetes to include warnings about too much acid in the blood and serious urinary tract infections.
