Key takeaways
Jardiance (empagliflozin) and Ozempic (semaglutide) are both medications used to treat Type 2 diabetes and help lower the risk of heart problems in adults with this condition. However, they belong to different medication classes and have distinct characteristics. Jardiance is a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor taken orally once a day, while Ozempic is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist injected subcutaneously (under the skin) once a week. Both are available only as brand name medications. Common side effects of Jardiance include urinary tract infections and yeast infections, while Ozempic often causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Jardiance can lead to dehydration and low blood pressure, whereas Ozempic carries a risk of thyroid cancer and pancreatitis. Both medications can cause low blood sugar when used with other diabetes treatments, but they have different mechanisms and dosing schedules, which may influence preferences for one over the other.
