Ozempic vs. Jardiance for Type 2 Diabetes: 6 Key Differences You Should Know About
Ozempic and Jardiance are different types of medications that treat Type 2 diabetes. Learn more about their differences.
Jardiance
Used for Diabetes Type 2, Heart Failure
Used for Diabetes Type 2, Heart Failure
Jardiance (empagliflozin) is a medication that helps lower blood sugar for people 10 years and older with Type 2 diabetes. For the best results, it's used along with a nutritious diet and exercise. Jardiance (empagliflozin) can also help lower the risk of complications, hospital stays, and death for adults with heart failure or chronic kidney disease (CKD). This medication belongs to the drug class called sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. It comes as a tablet that you take by mouth once a day. Side effects include urinary tract infections (UTIs) and yeast infections.
What is Jardiance (empagliflozin)?
What is Jardiance (empagliflozin) used 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 hospital stays and death due to heart problems in adults with heart failure
- Lowering the risk of worsening kidney problems, hospital stays, and death due to heart problems in adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD)
How Jardiance (empagliflozin) works
Jardiance (empagliflozin) is a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor. It works by blocking the SGLT2 protein in your kidneys. This prevents sugar and sodium (salt) from absorbing back into your blood.
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For Type 2 diabetes: Instead of having sugar go back into your blood, the sugar goes into your urine. This helps get rid of extra sugar in your blood, which lowers your blood sugar levels.
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For heart failure: By stopping your body from absorbing back too much sodium, the heart can fill with blood and pump blood through the body more easily. This helps lessen stress on the heart.
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For CKD: The medication works to help improve blood flow in the kidneys. This helps lessen stress on the kidneys and slow down CKD.
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Jardiance |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | SGLT2 inhibitor |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | No lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
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Side effects of Jardiance (empagliflozin)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Urinary tract infection (UTI; 8-9%)
- Vaginal yeast infection (5-6%)
- Upper respiratory tract infection (3-4%)
- High cholesterol levels (3-4%)
- Urinating more (3%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Genital yeast infection or fungal infection in males
- Joint pain
- Nausea
- Feeling thirstier
Jardiance (empagliflozin) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Severe allergic reaction: swelling in the face, throat, tongue, or mouth; rash; trouble breathing
- High ketone levels in the blood: nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, tiredness, thirsty, dry mouth, fruity breath, trouble breathing
When do Jardiance (empagliflozin) possible side effects begin and end?
Time passed since treatment started:
H
D
W
M
Risk for genital infections (e.g., vaginal yeast infection)
Urinating more than usual
If a line continues to the right, you'll likely keep experiencing this side effect once it starts.
More on Jardiance (empagliflozin) side effects
The following Jardiance (empagliflozin) side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Dehydration—increased thirst, dry mouth, feeling faint or lightheaded, headache, dark yellow or brown urine
- Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)—increased thirst or amount of urine, dry mouth, fatigue, fruity odor to breath, trouble breathing, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting
- Genital yeast infection—redness, swelling, pain, or itchiness, odor, thick or lumpy discharge
- New pain or tenderness, change in skin color, sores or ulcers, infection of the leg or foot
- Infection or redness, swelling, tenderness, or pain in the genitals, or area from the genitals to the back of the rectum
- Urinary tract infection (UTI)—burning when passing urine, passing frequent small amounts of urine, bloody or cloudy urine, pain in the lower back or sides
Get your GoodRx coupon
$1353.32
GoodRx discount
$1023.66
Pros and cons of Jardiance (empagliflozin)
Pros
- Taken by mouth once a day
- Might notice some weight loss
- Can take with other diabetes medications
Cons
- Might make you urinate more
- Raises the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and genital yeast infections
- Not recommended during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy
Pharmacist tips for Jardiance (empagliflozin)
- Take Jardiance (empagliflozin) in the morning with or without food.
- Swallow Jardiance (empagliflozin) tablets whole. Don't cut them in half, crush, or chew them. If you have trouble swallowing the tablets, talk to your prescriber.
- If you miss your dose of Jardiance (empagliflozin), take it as soon as you remember. But if it's almost for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose as usual. Never double up to make up for a missed dose since this could raise your risk of side effects.
- Drink plenty of fluids while taking Jardiance (empagliflozin). Stay hydrated because this medication can put you at risk of dehydration or low blood pressure. If you feel dizzy when you stand up, hold onto something until the feeling goes away or sit back down carefully.
- Practice good hygiene to help prevent yeast infections and urinary tract infections (UTIs). These are common side effects of Jardiance (empagliflozin). Change clothes and shower soon after exercising or being outside on a hot day. Also, wear underwear and clothing made from breathable fabric like cotton.
- It's best to avoid alcohol while taking Jardiance (empagliflozin). Alcohol can raise your risk of side effects, such as needing to urinate more often and dehydration. It can also put you at risk of having low blood sugar. Drinking a lot of alcohol or regularly drinking can raise your risk of heart-related problems. Talk to your prescriber about how much alcohol you usually drink. They can make sure you can take Jardiance (empagliflozin) safely.
- You might be at risk of having low blood sugar if you take Jardiance (empagliflozin) with some other diabetes medications. Check your blood sugar if you feel shaky or confused or if your heart is beating faster than usual. These can be signs of low blood sugar. If you have low blood sugar (less than 70 mg/dL), make sure you know how to treat it and when to call 911.
- Tell your prescriber if you're going to have surgery and will need to fast (can't eat for a while). Surgery can put stress on your body. This stress and eating less than usual while taking Jardiance (empagliflozin) can raise your risk of ketoacidosis. This is when you have high ketone levels in the body and can be very harmful. To help keep you safe, your prescriber might tell you to stop taking the medication a few days before surgery. Follow their instructions about when to start it again after you recover and are eating as usual.
- Keep taking your other medications as prescribed along with Jardiance (empagliflozin). Also stay active and eat a balanced diet with different fruits and vegetables. Try to avoid foods with a lot of sugar and highly processed carbohydrates. This helps your overall health, such as controlling your blood sugar. Talk with your care team about other ways to help manage your condition.
- If you're pregnant, thinking of becoming pregnant, or breastfeeding: Talk to your prescriber. Jardiance (empagliflozin) isn't recommended during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy or while breastfeeding. This is because the medication might harm your baby. Also tell your care team right away if you become pregnant during treatment. Your prescriber can help find a safer treatment option for you.
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Risks and warnings for Jardiance (empagliflozin)
Jardiance (empagliflozin) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Ketoacidosis
- Risk factors: Diabetes | Sick with a fever | Eating much less than usual | Ketogenic (keto) diet | Dehydration | Pancreatic problems | Alcohol use | Insulin dose reduction or missed insulin doses | Surgery
Some people with diabetes who take Jardiance (empagliflozin) can develop called ketoacidosis. This serious condition happens when your body makes too many acids called ketones. It can make your blood too acidic, which can be dangerous and life-threatening. Your risk might be higher if you get sick, eat much less than usual, or recently had surgery.
Whether or not you have diabetes, watch for signs of ketoacidosis while taking Jardiance (empagliflozin). Early signs can include feeling very thirsty, dry mouth, and urinating more often. Other signs include fruity-smelling breath, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, or feeling very tired. If you notice these symptoms, check your ketone levels if possible and get medical help right away.
Low fluids in the body (leading to low blood pressure or dehydration)
- Risk factors: 65 years or older | Kidney problems | Taking loop diuretics (water pills) | Low-sodium diet
Jardiance (empagliflozin) can cause your body to lose too much fluid. This can lead to dehydration or very low blood pressure in some people. Low fluid levels can also lower blood flow to the kidneys and might cause kidney injury.
Your risk might be higher if you're 65 years or older or if you already have kidney problems. It can also be higher if you follow a low-sodium diet. If you're at risk, your prescriber will check your kidneys with blood tests before you start Jardiance (empagliflozin). They might also check during treatment to make sure the medication stays safe for you.
Talk to your care team if you feel dizzy or lightheaded while you're taking Jardiance (empagliflozin). These can be signs of dehydration or low blood pressure. Also let your prescriber know if you notice that you're urinating less than usual. This could also be a sign of dehydration or a kidney problem.
Genital and urinary tract infections
- Risk factors: History of genital yeast infections or urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Jardiance (empagliflozin) can raise the risk of genital infections, like yeast infections, and UTIs. In rare cases, these infections can become serious and might need hospital treatment.
Get urgent care right away if you have a burning when you urinate, need to urinate often, or see blood in your urine. These can be signs of a UTI. Also get medical help if you have a fever; odor from your genitals; or pain, itching, swelling, or redness around your genitals. These can be signs of a genital yeast infection. It's important to get it checked out so you can get treated quickly.
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) when used with certain other diabetes medications
- Risk factors: Taking certain other medications for diabetes | Children
Taking Jardiance (empagliflozin) with certain other diabetes medications can put you at risk of having low blood sugar. These diabetes medications are insulin and sulfonylureas like glipizide. Very low blood sugar can be dangerous and even life-threatening.
It's important that you can spot the symptoms of low blood sugar. This can include feeling shaky, anxious, confused, sleepy, weak, or very hungry. You might also have a fast heartbeat or chills.
If you have these symptoms, check your blood sugar and treat any low blood sugar right away. Talk to your prescriber or pharmacist about your risk for low blood sugar.
Leg and foot amputations
- Risk factors: History of amputations | Peripheral artery disease (narrowed blood vessels) | Diabetic foot ulcers
It's rare, but some people taking Jardiance (empagliflozin) needed foot or leg amputations during studies. The risk was higher for those with poor blood circulation or diabetes. In studies, the most common reasons for amputations were peripheral artery disease and diabetic foot ulcers.
Tell a healthcare professional right away if you notice new pain, tenderness, sores, ulcers, or infections on your legs or feet. Your care team can talk to you about ways to manage these problems or treat them before they get worse. If you have diabetes, make sure to have regular foot exams with your diabetes care team.
Allergic reactions
In rare cases, Jardiance (empagliflozin) can cause serious allergic reactions. This can be trouble breathing; a rash; or swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. If a serious allergic reaction happens, get medical help right away.
Jardiance (empagliflozin) dosage
The average cost for 30 tablets of 10mg of Jardiance (empagliflozin) is $10.00 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 98.77% off the average retail price of $809.93.
Typical dosage for Jardiance (empagliflozin)
The typical dose is 10 mg by mouth once a day in the morning.
For people with Type 2 diabetes only, the dose can be raised to 25 mg once a day to manage your blood sugar better.
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How much does Jardiance (empagliflozin) cost?
To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
Jardiance (brand)
$10.00
What are alternatives to Jardiance (empagliflozin)?
There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Jardiance (empagliflozin). Compare a few possible alternatives below.
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