Is it safe to take Jardiance and Trulicity together?

In this article:

• Can you take Jardiance and Trulicity together?
• Taking Jardiance and Trulicity together
• Is Jardiance or Trulicity better?

In this article

• Can you take Jardiance and Trulicity together?
• Taking Jardiance and Trulicity together
• Is Jardiance or Trulicity better?

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, you might have questions about treatment options. Jardiance (empagliflozin) and Trulicity (dulaglutide) are brand-name medicines that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for blood sugar control in people with Type 2 diabetes. Beyond that, they are very different prescription medications.

“Trulicity is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, and Jardiance is an SGLT2 inhibitor,” says Jodie Pepin, Pharm.D., clinical pharmacy program director at Harbor Health. “Trulicity works by helping the body to release more insulin from the pancreas, and Jardiance works by allowing the kidneys to reabsorb glucose and then flush it out in the urine.”

Can you take Jardiance and Trulicity together?

Because taking Jardiance and Trulicity together is safe, some healthcare providers recommend that their patients take both. 

“When treating diabetes, we like to cover several bases to be more effective. That’s why we often combine drugs that work in different pathways,” Dr. Pepin explained. 

Prescribers may also choose drugs that work together while helping with other conditions related to diabetes. For instance, SGLT2 inhibitors like Jardiance and Farxiga have been shown to protect against heart failure from heart disease and worsening kidney disease in people with Type 2 diabetes. Injectable diabetes treatments such as Trulicity, Victoza, and Ozempic, on the other hand, are linked to weight loss, “which many people with diabetes need help with to improve their all-around health,” Dr. Pepin says.

A study funded by Eli Lilly and Company, the manufacturer of both Jardiance and Trulicity, found that patients who took both medications had better control of blood glucose levels than patients who took Jardiance alone. “However, they had a greater incidence of gastrointestinal distress, including diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting,” Dr. Pepin added. Additionally, combining the medications may raise the risk of hypoglycemia or low blood sugar. Left unchecked, hypoglycemia can quickly turn into a medical emergency.

Taking Jardiance and Trulicity together

There are no known interactions between Jardiance and Trulicity, which means taking them together is considered generally safe. Some healthcare providers prescribe both medications to patients who may experience better glycemic control from a two-pronged approach. 

The best practices for taking Jardiance and Trulicity together are the same as the best practices for taking them individually:

• Discuss your medical history with your healthcare provider before taking new medications. Your healthcare provider needs to know your complete medical history (including family medical history), conditions, and other medications you’re taking before prescribing any new antidiabetes treatment.
• Take your medicine consistently. Jardiance, an oral tablet, should be taken at the same time every day. Trulicity, a subcutaneous injection in a prefilled injector pen, should be taken at the same time, on the same day, each week.

• Be mindful of what and how much you eat. “Consuming large portions of food or high-fat meals may lead to more pronounced side effects of the medication,” says Angela Ginn-Meadow, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator. She recommends eating smaller portions and avoiding fried food to minimize nausea from these medications.

• Report serious side effects to your healthcare provider. There are no known drug interactions between Jardiance and Trulicity. However, both drugs have the potential to cause hypoglycemia. Anyone taking Jardiance and Trulicity together should be aware of the early signs of hypoglycemia, including confusion, dizziness, and a fast heart rate. 

Never stop taking Jardiance, Trulicity, or both without first seeking medical advice from a healthcare professional. 

Is Jardiance or Trulicity better?

Both Jardiance and Trulicity are effective treatments for Type 2 diabetes. 

• A meta-analysis published in Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism in 2014 found that empagliflozin, the active ingredient in Jardiance, is effective at controlling blood sugar and reducing body weight and blood pressure. 
• A study published in 2021 in Diabetes Care, a publication of the American Diabetes Association, found a dose-dependent relationship between dulaglutide, the active ingredient in Trulicity, and a reduction in blood sugar and body weight. 

“The effectiveness of medication can be determined by meeting glucose and A1C targets,” Ginn-Meadow added. “You and your healthcare provider will choose the best medication to help you achieve your diabetes goals.”

In other words, there is no clear answer as to which of these diabetes medications is better than the other. They are simply different.

Jardiance vs. Trulicity: Forms of administration

Jardiance is available as a tablet that is taken by mouth on a daily basis, and Trulicity is available as a subcutaneous injection in an injector pen taken once weekly. Some people with diabetes may prefer the convenience of a once-weekly drug instead of a daily pill. Others, especially those with a fear of needles, may prefer taking their medication by mouth. 

Jardiance vs. Trulicity: Side effects and risks

These diabetes drugs also have different possible side effects and risks to consider. Common Jardiance side effects include urinary tract infections (UTIs),  genital yeast infections, and upper respiratory infections. Side effects of Trulicity are more related to the gastrointestinal system—nausea, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, and suppressed appetite, for instance. 

Jardiance may not be suitable for people with kidney or liver disease, while Trulicity may not be suitable for people with a family history of thyroid cancer. Both medications cause an increased risk of pancreas problems.

Jardiance vs Trulicity: Cost

Jardiance is more affordable than Trulicity before insurance or discounts. However, a person’s out-of-pocket cost for any prescription medication varies greatly depending on insurance coverage. That’s important to consider when discussing diabetes treatments with your healthcare provider.