Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, warnings, and more.
Key takeaways
Jardiance (empagliflozin) and Wegovy (semaglutide) are both medications that can help with conditions related to Type 2 diabetes and heart health, but they belong to different medication classes and have distinct uses. Jardiance is a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor taken orally once a day, primarily used to manage blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 diabetes and to reduce the risk of heart and kidney complications. It can also cause weight loss as a side effect, though it is not approved for weight loss. Common side effects include urinary tract infections and yeast infections. On the other hand, Wegovy is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist injected once weekly, specifically approved for long-term weight management in adults and children with a high body mass index (BMI), and to lower the risk of heart problems in adults with heart disease. Wegovy's common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, and stomach pain. Both Jardiance and Wegovy are available only as brand-name medications. Both medications can interact with diabetes medications, with an increased risk for low blood sugar.
Wegovy (semaglutide) is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. It comes in prefilled pens you use to inject the medication under the skin once a week. Wegovy (semaglutide) also comes as tablets that are swallowed once a day. This medication is approved for weight loss in some people. It can help lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death due to heart problems in adults with a larger body size and heart disease. The pens are also approved for certain adults with a liver problem called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). The medication works best when taken with a lower-calorie diet and regular exercise. Side effects include nausea, diarrhea, and stomach pain.
Indications of Jardiance vs. Wegovy
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)