Key takeaways
Jardiance (empagliflozin) and Actos (pioglitazone) are both medications used to manage Type 2 diabetes, but they work differently and have distinct characteristics. Jardiance is a sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor that helps lower blood sugar by causing your body to excrete excess sugar through urine. It also has benefits for heart failure and chronic kidney disease. Actos, on the other hand, is a thiazolidinedione that improves your body's ability to use insulin. Jardiance is taken once daily and is currently only available as a brand-name medication, with generics expected after 2025. Actos is also taken once daily and is available in generic form. Jardiance can cause urinary tract and yeast infections, while Actos may lead to weight gain, fluid build-up, and an increased risk of bladder cancer and bone fractures. Additionally, Jardiance is not recommended during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, whereas Actos is not suitable for those with uncontrolled heart failure or bladder cancer.
