Key takeaways
Jardiance (empagliflozin) and Tradjenta (linagliptin) are both medications used to treat Type 2 diabetes, but they work in different ways and have distinct characteristics. Jardiance is a sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor that helps lower blood sugar by causing your body to get rid of excess sugar through urine. It also has benefits for heart failure and chronic kidney disease. Tradjenta, on the other hand, is a dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitor that helps your body produce more insulin and make less sugar by blocking the DPP-4 protein. Jardiance is taken once daily in the morning, while Tradjenta can be taken any time of day, with or without food. Jardiance is currently only available as a brand-name medication, with generics expected after 2025, whereas Tradjenta does not have a generic form available. Common side effects of Jardiance include urinary tract infections and yeast infections, while Tradjenta may cause runny nose, sneezing, and diarrhea. Additionally, Jardiance can lead to weight loss, whereas Tradjenta does not typically affect weight.
