Farxiga vs. Jardiance: What You Should Know

Uses for Farxiga and Jardiance

Farxiga and Jardiance are both used, along with exercise and a balanced meal plan, to manage blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. They also reduce certain risks associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and heart failure in adults.

The following chart lists the conditions each drug treats or helps prevent.

To learn more about taking Farxiga or Jardiance to treat your condition, talk with your doctor.

Farxiga or Jardiance and children

Farxiga and Jardiance are approved to help manage blood sugar levels in children ages 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes.

For more information about the use of either drug in children, talk with your child’s doctor.

FAQ about Farxiga and Jardiance

Get answers to some commonly asked questions about Farxiga and Jardiance.

Are there reasons why Farxiga may be a better treatment option than Jardiance or vice versa?

Whether Farxiga or Jardiance is a better treatment option for you may depend on several factors, including:

• the condition you’re taking the drug to treat
• other conditions you have

Both drugs help manage blood sugar levels in adults and some children with type 2 diabetes. They also help prevent certain heart-related complications in adults with heart disease and reduce the risk of complications due to chronic kidney disease.

Studies have found both drugs to be effective for these uses. To learn more, see the “Effectiveness of Farxiga and Jardiance” section.

If you have questions about how Farxiga and Jardiance compare, talk with your doctor. They’ll help determine if one of these drugs is right for you.

How does Invokana compare with Farxiga and Jardiance?

Invokana (canagliflozin), Farxiga, and Jardiance all belong to the same drug group. All three drugs help manage blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes, and each drug has additional uses as well.

All three drugs are usually taken once per day in the morning. You can take Farxiga and Jardiance with or without food, but you should take Invokana before eating.

To learn more about how Invokana compares with Farxiga and Jardiance, talk with your doctor.

Can either Farxiga or Jardiance be used for weight loss?

No, Farxiga and Jardiance are not prescribed for weight loss. But it’s possible to lose weight while taking either of these drugs. This is because Farxiga and Jardiance help your body get rid of extra sugar that it usually stores as fat.

If you have type 2 diabetes, losing excess weight can help manage your blood sugar. It may also lower your risk of certain complications, such as heart disease, nerve damage, and kidney problems.

If you’re interested in learning about treatments for weight loss, talk with your doctor.

Do Farxiga and Jardiance have generic versions?

You may wonder if Farxiga or Jardiance is available as a generic.

A generic drug is an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.)

To find out if Farxiga or Jardiance is available as a generic, see the following list.

• Farxiga:
  • Available as a generic: yes
  • Active ingredient: dapagliflozin

• Jardiance:
  • Available as a generic: no
  • Active ingredient: empagliflozin

Cost of Farxiga and Jardiance

Whether you have health insurance or not, cost may be a factor when you’re considering these drugs.

For more details about the cost of these drugs, see the articles for Farxiga’s cost and Jardiance’s cost.

What you’ll pay for either drug will depend on your treatment plan, your health insurance, and the pharmacy you use.

Farxiga and Jardiance are both brand-name drugs. Currently, there isn’t a generic version of either drug available.

Dosage, forms, and administration for Farxiga and Jardiance

Here’s an overview of Farxiga and Jardiance dosages for the conditions they both treat or help prevent in adults. The strengths of each drug are listed in milligrams (mg).

To learn more about the dosages for all conditions these drugs treat or help prevent, see the dosage articles for Farxiga and Jardiance.

Dosage for type 2 diabetes

Dosage for heart failure or CKD

Side effects of Farxiga and Jardiance

It’s possible to have mild or serious side effects when taking Farxiga or Jardiance, and many of them are similar.

For more information about possible side effects, see the side effect articles on Farxiga and Jardiance.

Mild side effects

Farxiga and Jardiance may cause mild side effects in some people. The table lists examples of mild side effects that have been reported with these drugs.

This chart may not include all mild side effects of these drugs. For more information on mild side effects of the two drugs, see the Farxiga prescribing information and Jardiance prescribing information.

Serious side effects

In addition to mild side effects, serious side effects may occur in people taking Farxiga or Jardiance. Here’s a list of side effects that have been reported with these drugs.

Effectiveness of Farxiga and Jardiance

Farxiga and Jardiance help manage blood sugar levels in adults and children ages 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes. They’re also used to reduce the risk of heart-related complications in adults with heart failure and complications associated with chronic kidney disease. Studies of Farxiga and Jardiance have found both medications to be effective for these uses.

For information about how each drug performed in studies, see the prescribing information for Farxiga and Jardiance.

Additionally, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines recommend both Farxiga and Jardiance as treatment options for type 2 diabetes in adults.

As well, the KDIGO 2022 Clinical Practice Guideline for Diabetes Management in Chronic Kidney Disease does not recommend one drug over the other.

What are the warnings for Farxiga and Jardiance?

Farxiga and Jardiance may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. The prescribing information for these drugs refers to these factors as warnings.

The two drugs share some of the same warnings, but they also have different ones. Some of these warnings are mentioned here. Before taking Farxiga or Jardiance, talk with your doctor if any of the following conditions or health factors apply to you.

• Warnings for both Farxiga and Jardiance:
  • if you’ve had an allergic reaction to either drug or any of its ingredients
  • if you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant
  • if you’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed
  • if you’ve had a genital yeast infection or a urinary tract infection (UTI) before
  • if you have kidney problems
  • if you take diuretics (water pills)
  • if you have high cholesterol
  • if you use insulin

To learn more about these drugs, see the in-depth articles on Farxiga and Jardiance.

Switching between Farxiga and Jardiance

The short answer: It’s possible.

Details: You can switch between Farxiga and Jardiance, but you may not notice much difference between the two. This is because both drugs have similar side effects and work in the same way.

But if you’re considering switching between Farxiga and Jardiance because your insurance prefers one over the other, switching should not affect your condition.

Reminder: You should not switch drugs or stop your current treatment unless your doctor recommends it. Talk with your doctor if you have questions about switching your medication.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.