People commonly compare Jardiance (empagliflozin) and metformin, as both of these medications can treat type 2 diabetes. Patients can use them together or separately, depending on the individual patient’s needs and health status.
What is Jardiance?
Jardiance (empagliflozin) is a blood sugar lowering-medication for people with type 2 diabetes. It is from a class of drugs called SGLT2 inhibitors, and it works by helping the kidneys send excess sugar out of the body through the urine.
What is Metformin?
Metformin (Glucophage, Glucophage XR, Glumetza, Fortamet, Riomet) is also a blood sugar-lowering medication for people with type 2 diabetes and prediabetes. It is from a class of drugs called biguanides, and it works by decreasing the amount of sugar absorbed from food and by decreasing the amount of sugar made by the liver. Metformin also makes it easier for cells to take in sugar.
Jardiance and Metformin
In general, experts consider Jardiance and metformin safe to take together. Many people with type 2 diabetes will be prescribed metformin since it is considered a “first-choice” drug by professionals, including the American Diabetes Association. But sometimes metformin and healthy lifestyle habits aren’t enough to lower a person’s blood sugar. In these cases, a person may need another blood sugar-lowering drug.
While many other drugs can work safely with metformin to help lower blood sugar, Jardiance is often recommended for people with type 2 diabetes who also are at risk of kidney damage, heart attack, or stroke. In fact, Jardiance and metformin are now prescribed together so frequently that a new drug called Synjardy has been created; it contains empagliflozin and metformin in one pill.
FAQ
Is Jardiance better than metformin?
Metformin is considered the first-choice medication for people with type 2 diabetes. However, metformin is not enough for some people to lower blood sugar levels. For these individuals, Jardiance may be a good additional drug. Both metformin and Jardiance are effective at lowering blood sugar. Jardiance may be better at protecting against heart and kidney problems, though.
What diabetes medication can be taken with metformin?
Many types of diabetes medications can be taken with metformin, including empagliflozin (Jardiance), glipizide (Glucotrol XL, Glucotrol), and sitagliptin (Januvia). These medications may be taken separately or combined into a single pill that also contains metformin.
Disclaimer: this article does not constitute or replace medical advice. If you have an emergency or a serious medical question, please contact a medical professional or call 911 immediately. To see our full medical disclaimer, visit our Terms of Use page.
OVERVIEWDOSAGESIDE EFFECTSINTERACTIONSHALF-LIFE
Generic Name: Empagliflozin
Brands: Jardiance
Class: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors
Availability: Prescription only (currently in the United States, no generic version is available)
Molecular Formula: C23H27ClO7
Substance UNII: HDC1R2M35U
What is Jardiance?
Jardiance is a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor. It is the brand name of the drug empagliflozin.
What is Jardiance Used For?
Jardiance is used for the treatment of diabetes. It was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2014.
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, Jardiance can also help lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death in people with type 2 diabetes who also have heart and blood vessel diseases.
How Does Jardiance Work?
Jardiance helps lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. It’s meant to be used along with diet and exercise. It works by helping the kidneys send excess sugar out of the body through the urine.
How Long Does it Take for Jardiance to Work?
Jardiance may start to help lower blood sugar levels within 1 to 2 weeks. But studies suggest it may take up to 24 weeks for a person to get the full benefits of Jardiance.
Do Not Use Jardiance If:
There are several situations where this medication may not be the right choice for you. According to the FDA, the following should not use Jardiance:
- People with type 1 diabetes
- People with allergies or sensitivities to ingredients in Jardiance
- People with severe or end-stage kidney disease, including people who are on dialysis
- People with diabetic ketoacidosis (a serious health condition that can occur if high blood sugar is left untreated)
Please note that this list may not be complete, and there may be other situations where the use of this drug is not advisable.
Disclaimer: this article does not constitute or replace medical advice. If you have an emergency or a serious medical question, please contact a medical professional or call 911 immediately. To see our full medical disclaimer, visit our Terms of Use page.
