Comparing Farxiga vs. Jardiance for Managing Type 2 Diabetes
In managing type 2 diabetes, medications like Farxiga and Jardiance play a crucial role. Both belong to the SGLT2 inhibitor class, helping kidneys remove glucose from the blood into urine, thus lowering blood sugar. While they work similarly, there are key differences to note.
Getting to Know Farxiga and Jardiance
Farxiga reduces blood sugar by stopping a protein in the kidneys that helps take glucose back into the bloodstream. Farxiga, which inhibits this protein, aids the kidneys in the elimination of excess sugar in the body via urine. To get the most benefit and prevent any potential side effects, it’s crucial to take Farxiga precisely as your doctor has instructed.
Jardiance, on the other hand, stops a protein in the kidneys from doing its job, which is to transport glucose back into the bloodstream. It helps the kidneys get rid of extra sugar in the body through urine by stopping this protein. To get the most benefits and prevent any potential side effects, it’s crucial to take Jardiance precisely as your doctor has instructed.
Jardiance vs. Farxiga for Diabetes – Ingredients
Jardiance and Farxiga are both medications used to treat type 2 diabetes, but they contain different active ingredients:
- Jardiance: The active ingredient in Jardiance is empagliflozin.
- Farxiga: Farxiga’s main ingredient is dapagliflozin.
These medications are all sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, which are the same type of drug. Their job is to help the kidneys get glucose out of the bloodstream through urinating, which lowers blood sugar. Despite having different active ingredients, both Jardiance and Farxiga are effective in managing type 2 diabetes when used as prescribed by a healthcare provider.
Farxiga vs. Jardiance – Uses
Jardiance and Farxiga have similar and different uses that the FDA has approved.
- Uses shared by both Jardiance and Farxiga: Along with diet and exercise, helping people with type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar levels.
- Additional uses for Jardiance: It includes reducing the risk of death from heart disease, like heart attack and stroke. People who have type 2 diabetes or heart disease can use Jardiance.
- Additional uses for Farxiga: Lowering the chance of having to go to the hospital for heart failure. Farxiga is approved for adults with type 2 diabetes and heart disease or risk factors for heart disease.
Reducing the risk of being hospitalized or dying from heart failure. Farxiga can be prescribed for adults with heart failure who don’t have type 2 diabetes.
Is Jardiance similar to Farxiga in terms of side effects?
Jardiance and Farxiga are similar medications with similar mechanisms of action so they can cause similar side effects. Some common side effects of both medications include:
- Urinary tract infections
- Genital yeast infections
- Increased urination
- Dehydration
- Low blood pressure when standing up
- Increased cholesterol levels
- Increased risk of bone fractures
- Ketoacidosis (a serious condition where the body produces high levels of blood acids called ketones)
It’s important to remember that while the side effects of Jardiance and Farxiga are similar, they can be different for different people. It’s important to let your doctor know about any side effects you might be having while taking these drugs.
Other Differences between Jardiance and Farxiga
Aside from active ingredients, uses, and side effects, here are the other differences between Farxiga and Jardiance:
Cardiovascular Benefits: Jardiance has been studied a lot to see how it helps the heart. It has been found to lower the chances of having a heart attack, stroke, or dying from heart problems in people with type 2 diabetes. Farxiga also helps the heart, but not as much research has been done on its benefits for the heart.
Cost and Availability: Both medicines are sold as brand-name drugs and can cost a lot. Farxiga is also available as a generic drug, which can be cheaper for some people.
Generic Availability: Farxiga can be bought as a generic drug, but Jardiance cannot. You can’t get a generic form of Jardiance. It is still under patent protection, which means that it may be more expensive than Farxiga or other generic medications.
Is Farxiga better than Jardiance?
Both Farxiga and Jardiance are effective for treating type 2 diabetes by helping remove glucose from the bloodstream. Farxiga is available as a generic, which can be cheaper, while Jardiance is still only available as a brand-name drug. The side effects of both drugs are about the same, but Jardiance may slightly raise the risk of urinary tract infections.
More proof shows that Jardiance is good for heart health and lowers the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death from heart disease in people with type 2 diabetes. Farxiga also helps the heart, but it hasn’t been studied as much for these benefits. It’s important to talk to your doctor to decide which medication is best for you, considering the cost, side effects, and heart health benefits.
