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Jardiance vs. Actos

Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, warnings, and more.

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.

Jardiance

(empagliflozin)

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Pioglitazone

(Actos)

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Summary for Jardiance

Prescription only

Jardiance (empagliflozin) is a medication that's used along with a nutritious diet and routine exercise to improve blood sugar levels in people 10 years and older with Type 2 diabetes. It can also lower the chance of serious complications, hospitalization, and death in certain adults with heart failure or chronic kidney disease (CKD). Jardiance (empagliflozin) belongs to the drug class called sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. It's a tablet that's taken by mouth once a day. Side effects can include urinary tract infections (UTIs), yeast infections, and weight loss.

Indications for Jardiance

  • Type 2 diabetes (in addition to diet and exercise) in people age 10 years and older
  • Lowering the risk of death due to heart problems in adults with Type 2 diabetes and heart disease
  • Lowering the risk of hospitalization and death due to heart problems in adults with heart failure
  • Lowering the risk of worsening kidney problems, hospitalization, and death due to heart problems in adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD)

Pros and Cons for Jardiance

Pros

  • Taken by mouth once a day
  • Unlikely to cause weight gain
  • Can take with other diabetes medications

Cons

Common Side Effects for Jardiance

Warnings for Jardiance

  • Ketoacidosis
  • Low fluids in the body (leading to low blood pressure or dehydration)
  • Genital and urinary tract infections
  • Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) when used with certain other diabetes medications
  • Leg and foot amputations
  • Allergic reactions

Summary for Actos

Prescription only

Pioglitazone (Actos) is an oral medication used to treat Type 2 diabetes in adults, along with diet and exercise. It's a thiazolidinedione, which works by helping your body respond better to insulin. This medication is taken by mouth once a day and is available in both brand and generic forms. Side effects include headache, swelling in the body, and weight gain. There's also a serious warning that it can cause or worsen heart failure.

Indications for Actos

Pros and Cons for Actos

Pros

  • Only taken once a day
  • Rarely causes dangerously low blood sugar when taken by itself
  • Can be taken with or without food

Cons

  • Can cause fluid buildup in the body
  • Not safe for people with moderate to severe heart failure
  • Not a good choice for people with bladder cancer

Common Side Effects for Actos

  • Swelling (27%)
  • Upper respiratory tract infection (13%)
  • Headache (9%)
  • Heart failure (8%)
  • Sinus infection (6%)
  • Pain in the arms and legs (6%)

Side effects above are for pioglitazone (Actos) taken alone. These might differ if it's taken with other medications.

Warnings for Actos

  • Heart failure and swelling
  • Low blood sugar (when used with other medications)
  • Liver problems
  • Bladder cancer
  • Risk of bone fractures
  • Eye problems

Prices with our coupons for Jardiance vs. Actos

Price Card Drug Icon
Jardiance30 tablets / 10mg
$354.86$422.29
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Price Card Drug Icon
Pioglitazone30 tablets / 30mg
$12.52$19.06
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