Key takeaways
Jardiance (empagliflozin) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) are both medications used to treat Type 2 diabetes, but they belong to different drug classes and have distinct characteristics. Jardiance is a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor taken orally once a day, while Mounjaro is a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist injected subcutaneously (under the skin) once weekly. Jardiance is also approved to lower the risk of heart and kidney complications in certain adults, whereas Mounjaro is not. Both are only available as brand-name medications. Common side effects of Jardiance include urinary tract infections and yeast infections, while Mounjaro often causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Both medications can cause low blood sugar when used with other diabetes treatments, but Mounjaro also carries a risk of thyroid cancer and pancreatitis. Additionally, Jardiance may lead to dehydration and low blood pressure, while Mounjaro can cause stomach and gallbladder issues.
