Key takeaways
Rybelsus (semaglutide) and Jardiance (empagliflozin) are both oral medications used to treat Type 2 diabetes. However, they belong to different medication classes and have distinct mechanisms of action. Rybelsus is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist that helps lower blood sugar by increasing insulin release, reducing sugar production in the liver, and slowing digestion. Jardiance, on the other hand, is a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor that works by preventing sugar reabsorption in the kidneys, causing sugar to be removed from the body in the urine. Rybelsus is taken once daily in the morning on an empty stomach, while Jardiance is also taken once daily but can be taken with or without food. Rybelsus is only approved for Type 2 diabetes, whereas Jardiance is also approved to for heart failure and chronic kidney disease. Common side effects of Rybelsus include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, while Jardiance may cause urinary tract infections and increased urination. Both medications can cause low blood sugar when used with other diabetes medications, but they have different warnings and risks, such as thyroid cancer risk with Rybelsus and ketoacidosis risk with Jardiance. Neither medication currently has a generic version available.
