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Compare Jardiance vs. Glimepiride

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

Key takeaways

Empagliflozin (Jardiance) and glimepiride (Amaryl) are both medications used to treat Type 2 diabetes, but they belong to different drug classes. Empagliflozin is a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, while glimepiride is a sulfonylurea. Empagliflozin is also FDA-approved to lower the risk of heart and kidney problems in certain adults, whereas glimepiride is only approved for Type 2 diabetes. You take empagliflozin once daily in the morning, and glimepiride is taken once daily with your first main meal. Empagliflozin does not have a generic version available, but glimepiride is available as a lower-cost generic. Common side effects of empagliflozin include urinary tract infections, yeast infections, and frequent urination. Glimepiride can cause low blood sugar and weight gain as common side effects. Both medications can interact with alcohol and diabetes medications—leading to a higher risk of low blood sugar.

  • Jardiance (empagliflozin)
    Glimepiride (Amaryl)
  • Jardiance (empagliflozin)
    Glimepiride (Amaryl)

  • Summary of Jardiance vs. Glimepiride

    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 Sulfonylurea
    Prescription only

    Glimepiride (Amaryl) is a medication used to treat type 2 diabetes along with healthy diet and exercise. It's part of the medication class called sulfonylureas. This medication is taken by mouth, typically once daily with the first main meal. Some common side effects of glimepiride (Amaryl) include headaches and low blood sugar. Like other medications in its class, it can also cause weight gain. Glimepiride (Amaryl) is available as both a brand name (Amaryl) and generic tablet.

  • Indications of Jardiance vs. Glimepiride

    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 2 diabetes in adults

  • Pros and Cons of Jardiance vs. Glimepiride

    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 Sulfonylurea
    Pros
    •Available as a lower-cost generic medication
    •Only taken once a day
    •Taken by mouth
    Cons
    •Need to take with the biggest meal of the day
    •More likely to cause weight gain compared to some other medications for diabetes
    •Might cause low blood sugar in breastfed babies and people ages 65 years and older

  • Common Side Effects of Jardiance vs. Glimepiride

    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
    •Shakiness, anxiety, and other symptoms of low blood sugar levels (up to 20%)
    •Headache (8%)
    •Fever, cough, and other flu-like symptoms (5%)
    •Nausea (5%)
    •Dizziness (5%)

  • Warnings of Jardiance vs. Glimepiride

    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
    •Low blood sugar
    •Serious allergic reactions
    •Risk of low red blood cell count (hemolytic anemia)
    •Possible risk of serious heart problems

  • Prices with our coupons for Jardiance vs. Glimepiride

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