Skip to main content
HomeDrug Comparisons
Drug bottle and Pill

Compare Jardiance vs. Afrezza

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

Key takeaways

Jardiance (empagliflozin) and Afrezza (insulin human inhaled are both used to manage diabetes, but they work in different ways and have distinct features. Jardiance is a sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor taken orally once a day for type 2 diabetes only, which 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. Afrezza, on the other hand, is a fast-acting insulin for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes that you inhale before meals to help your body absorb and store sugar from your bloodstream. Unlike Jardiance, Afrezza is not suitable for people with breathing problems like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Jardiance can cause urinary tract and yeast infections, while Afrezza's common side effects include low blood sugar, cough, and throat irritation. Currently, Jardiance does not have a generic version available until at least 2025, whereas Afrezza is only available in its branded form.

  • Jardiance (empagliflozin)
    Afrezza (insulin)
  • Jardiance (empagliflozin)
    Afrezza (insulin)

  • Summary of Jardiance vs. Afrezza

    Summary for SGLT2 inhibitor
    Prescription only

    Jardiance (empagliflozin) is a brand-name 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.

    Summary for Insulin
    Prescription only

    Afrezza is an ultra rapid-acting inhaled insulin for adults with diabetes. It helps manage blood sugar levels from meals. You breathe in the medication through the mouth using the Afrezza inhaler usually at the start of meals. Common side effects are low blood sugar and cough. There's also a risk of bronchospasm (sudden narrowing of the airways), which can make it hard to breathe. So Afrezza (insulin) isn't for people with breathing problems like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

  • Indications of Jardiance vs. Afrezza

    Indications for
    •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)
    Indications for
    •Type 1 diabetes (T1D) in adults
    •Type 2 diabetes (T2D) in adults

  • Pros and Cons of Jardiance vs. Afrezza

    Pros and Const for SGLT2 inhibitor
    Pros
    •Taken by mouth once a day
    •Unlikely to cause weight gain
    •Can take with other diabetes medications
    Cons
    •Raises risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and genital yeast infections
    •Might make you urinate more
    •Not recommended during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy
    Pros and Const for Insulin
    Pros
    •A good choice for people who don't want to use injectable insulin
    •Can help people with either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes manage blood sugar
    •Starts to work in about 12 minutes and lasts between 1.5 and 3 hours, depending on your dose
    Cons
    •Might need to use more than one cartridge of insulin for your dose (if you need more than 12 units of insulin)
    •Not for people who smoke or for people with breathing problems (e.g., asthma, COPD)
    •Not approved for children

  • Common Side Effects of Jardiance vs. Afrezza

    Common Side Effects for
    •Urinary tract infection (UTI; 8-9%)
    •Vaginal yeast infection in females (5-6%)
    •Upper respiratory tract infection (3-4%)
    •High cholesterol or fat levels (3-4%)
    •Urinating more than usual (3%)
    Common Side Effects for
    •Low blood sugar (up to 67%)
    •Cough (up to 29%)
    •Throat pain or irritation (up to 6%)
    •Headache (up to 5%)

  • Warnings of Jardiance vs. Afrezza

    Common Side Effects for
    •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
    Common Side Effects for
    •Breathing problems
    •Low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia)
    •Changes in blood sugar levels with changes to your insulin routine
    •Diabetic ketoacidosis
    •Low potassium levels
    •Swelling from fluid buildup and risk of heart failure when taken with certain diabetes medications

  • Prices with our coupons for Jardiance vs. Afrezza

    Learn more about Jardiance
    Learn more about Afrezza

Compare other Diabetes Type 2 drugs

Brenzavvy vs JardianceEntresto vs JardianceFarxiga vs JardianceGlucovance vs JardianceGlyxambi vs JardianceInpefa vs JardianceJanuvia vs JardianceJardiance vs ActosJardiance vs AfrezzaJardiance vs GlimepirideJardiance vs GlipizideJardiance vs GlucotrolJardiance vs GlyburideJardiance vs InvokametJardiance vs InvokanaJardiance vs JanumetJardiance vs MetaglipJardiance vs MetforminJardiance vs MounjaroJardiance vs OnglyzaJardiance vs OzempicJardiance vs PrecoseJardiance vs SynjardyJardiance vs TradjentaJardiance vs TrulicityJardiance vs VictozaJardiance vs WegovyRybelsus vs JardianceSteglatro vs JardianceInpefa vs Farxiga
View More

Browse medications

View All

Research prescriptions and over-the-counter medications from A to Z, compare drug prices, and start saving.