Jardiance vs Farxiga – detailed comparison:
Jardiance
It is the brand name of a drug called empagliflozin, an oral diabetes medication that belongs to the class of medications called oral antihyperglycemic agents.
This medication helps control blood sugar (glucose) levels by helping the kidneys remove glucose from the bloodstream. It does this by blocking SGLT2, a protein in the kidneys. As a result, the levels of glucose in the blood are reduced.
It was originally approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2014. It is manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Eli Lilly and Company.
Uses
This medication is used in association with a healthy diet and exercise to control blood sugar (glucose) levels in adults with type 2 diabetes.
The condition happens if the body does not make enough insulin or if the insulin does not work as well as it should.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the present day, an estimated 34 million Americans have diabetes, with over 90 percent of which is type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Also, an estimated 100 million people in the United States suffer from prediabetes or diabetes, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report.
Dosage
For adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus, the recommended dose is 10 mg orally once a day in the morning. The dosage may be increased to 25 mg orally once a day. It may be taken with or without food, nevertheless, it is suggested to take it at a fixed time every day.
Note – this oral antihyperglycemic agent helps reduce blood pressure and weight. But, it is not for patients with diabetic ketoacidosis or type 1 diabetes.
Side Effects And Precautions
Common side effects may include:
- a burning sensation during urination;
- drowsiness;
- pain in the back;
- dizziness;
- cloudy urine.
Less common side effects may include:
- lightheadedness;
- yellowish vaginal discharge;
- vaginal itching;
- confusion;
- a rash of the penis;
- swelling of the throat, face, and lips;
- weakness, especially when standing up;
- fast heartbeat;
- pain in the skin around the penis;
- kidney problems;
- vaginal odor;
- stomach pain;
- excessive hunger;
- red areas on the skin;
- feeling jittery;
- urinating more often than normal;
- irritability;
- breath that smells fruity;
- sweating;
- confusion;
- difficulty swallowing;
- shortness of breath;
- excessive thirst;
- increased LDL cholesterol levels;
- vomiting.
Alcohol
Alcohol may affect blood glucose (sugar) levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Both hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia may occur, depending on how much and how often you drink alcoholic beverages.
Therefore, talk to your healthcare provider before using alcohol together with this oral antihyperglycemic agent.
Drug Interactions
It may negatively interact with other medications, especially:
- tolbutamide;
- diuretics (water pills);
- tolazamide (an oral blood glucose lowering drug);
- insulin for diabetes;
- alprazolam;
- glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase);
- glipizide (Glucotrol);
- glimepiride (Amaryl);
- chlorpropamide (Diabinese).
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
It is not known whether this oral antihyperglycemic agent can negatively affect a breastfeeding baby. Hence, it is recommended that you talk with your healthcare professional about breastfeeding before taking this medication.
Moreover, it is not exactly known if this oral antihyperglycemic agent might cause harm to an unborn baby. Therefore, it is suggested that you talk with your healthcare provider before using this oral antihyperglycemic agent if you are pregnant or might fall pregnant.
Contraindications
Before taking this medication, you should tell your healthcare provider if you have or have ever had:
- liver disease;
- kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis);
- yeast infections;
- low blood pressure;
- high LDL and total cholesterol levels;
- problems with urination;
- a urinary tract infection.
Farxiga
It is the brand name of a drug called dapagliflozin, which is part of a new class of drugs called oral antihyperglycemic agents.
It works in the kidney to block a protein called SGLT2. By blocking this protein, this oral antihyperglycemic agent can remove excess glucose (sugar) through urine, which helps lower blood glucose levels.30
The medication is manufactured by AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb. It was first approved by the US FDA in 2014.
Uses
This prescription medication is typically used to control blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes, a lifelong condition that causes a person’s blood sugar (glucose) level to become too high.
Dosage
The recommended dose is 5 mg orally once a day. The dose may be increased to 10 mg orally once a day.
Important note – this prescription medication is not for treating type 1 diabetes.
Side Effects and Precautions
Common side effects may include:
- a sore throat;
- weakness;
- urinating more than usual;
- nausea;
- runny or stuffy nose.
Less common side effects may include:
- unusual drowsiness;
- dizziness;
- vomiting;
- little or no urination;
- confusion;
- a feeling like you might pass out;
- stomach pain;
- trouble breathing;
- burning during urination;
- pain in your pelvis or back;
- increased urination;
- blood in the urine;
- fever (high temperature).
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Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
It is not known exactly whether this oral antihyperglycemic agent passes into breast milk or if it could harm the infant. Therefore, contact your doctor before using the medication if you are breastfeeding a baby.
Additionally, there are no well-done clinical studies to determine whether this medication is safe during pregnancy. Hence, contact your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to get pregnant while taking the medication.
Alcohol
You should talk to your doctor before consuming alcoholic beverages while taking this medication because drinking alcoholic beverages may cause a change in blood glucose (sugar).
Contraindications
To make sure that this medication is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- bladder cancer;
- a bladder infection;
- if you drink alcoholic beverages often;
- low blood pressure;
- kidney disease;
- problems with the pancreas, including surgery;
- liver disease;
- heart problems;
- if you are on a low sodium diet.
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Drug Interactions
It may negatively interact with other medications, especially:
- Crestor (rosuvastatin);
- amlodipine;
- fish oil (omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids);
- fenofibrate;
- aspirin;
- D-G (dyphylline/guaifenesin);
- atorvastatin;
- insulin;
- enbrel;
- carvedilol;
- lisinopril;
- gabapentin;
- metformin;
- glimepiride;
- pravastatin;
- guanfacine;
- glipizide;
- omeprazole;
- hydrochlorothiazide;
- losartan;
- levothyroxine.
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Bottom Line – Jardiance vs Farxiga
Jardiance (active ingredient – empagliflozin) is in a class of medications known as sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors. This medication works by prompting the kidneys to get rid of more glucose (sugar) in the urine. It is prescribed for lowering blood sugar in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Farxiga (active ingredient – dapagliflozin) is a once-daily oral treatment indicated as an adjunct to exercise and diet to improve glycemic control in people with type 2 diabetes.
It works by blocking the kidney from reabsorbing glucose (sugar) and removing excess glucose through the urine. The FDA approved this medication in January 2014. It should not be used for the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis or type 1 diabetes.
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References https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm531517.htm https://www.reuters.com/article/us-heart-astrazeneca-diabetes/newer- https://www.boehringer-ingelheim.us/press-release/jardiance-empagliflozin-tablet
my doctor’s prescription was for Jardiance 10 mg but druggist filled for Farxiga 10 mg. Is there a difference that I should be concerned about?