Key takeaways
Jardiance (empagliflozin) and Metformin are both medications used to manage Type 2 diabetes, but they work in different ways and belong to different drug classes. 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. Metformin, a biguanide, lowers the amount of sugar your body makes and absorbs, and helps your body use insulin more effectively. Jardiance is taken once daily and is currently only available as a brand-name medication, with generics expected after 2025. Metformin, on the other hand, is available in both short-acting and long-acting generic forms and is typically taken once or twice daily. Common side effects of Jardiance include urinary tract infections and yeast infections, while Metformin often causes stomach issues like diarrhea and nausea. Additionally, Jardiance can lead to dehydration and ketoacidosis, whereas Metformin carries a risk of lactic acidosis and low vitamin B12 levels.
