Jardiance vs. glipizide: Differences, similarities & side effects

In this article:

• Key differences
• Conditions treated
• Is glipizide better than Jardiance?
• Cost and coverage
• Side effects
• Drug interactions
• Drug warnings
• Can you take Jardiance and glipizide together?

In this article

• Key differences
• Conditions treated
• Is glipizide better than Jardiance?
• Cost and coverage
• Side effects
• Drug interactions
• Drug warnings
• Can you take Jardiance and glipizide together?

Jardiance (empagliflozin) and glipizide are prescription medications that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Type 2 diabetes. Although both medicines are used for Type 2 diabetes, they belong to different drug classes and have different active ingredients and various other differences. Continue reading to learn more about Jardiance and glipizide.

Jardiance vs. glipizide: Key differences

Jardiance is a brand-name drug that contains the active ingredient empagliflozin. It is part of a group of drugs called sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. Examples of other drugs in the SGLT2 inhibitor class include Farxiga (dapagliflozin) and Invokana (canagliflozin). Jardiance works by helping the kidneys eliminate sugar in the urine. 

Glipizide is a generic medication that is part of a group of drugs called sulfonylureas. It works by helping the pancreas make more insulin (which helps lower blood sugar) and helping the body use insulin more efficiently. Glipizide is available in brand-name form as Glucotrol and Glucotrol XL (an extended-release formulation of glipizide). Other sulfonylurea drugs include glyburide and glimepiride.

Both medications are also available as combination drugs, as one ingredient in a medication that contains more than one ingredient. However, this article will focus on the single-ingredient products Jardiance and glipizide.

Jardiance vs. glipizide: Conditions treated

Jardiance is FDA approved for the following uses:

• To improve blood sugar control in adults and pediatric patients 10 years and older with Type 2 diabetes; usually in combination with diet and exercise
• To lower the risk of cardiovascular death and heart failure hospitalization in adults with heart failure
• To lower the risk of kidney complications, hospitalization, and cardiovascular death in adults with chronic kidney disease
• To lower the risk of cardiovascular death in adults who have both Type 2 diabetes and heart disease

Glipizide, on the other hand, is only FDA approved to improve blood sugar control in people with Type 2 diabetes. It is only approved for use in adults. Like Jardiance, healthcare providers generally recommend combining diet and exercise changes with this medicine.

*Shortened in table for clarity

Is glipizide better than Jardiance?

There are no clinical trials directly comparing the two medications. Only your healthcare provider can determine the best drug for you, taking into account many individual factors, such as your medical conditions, other medications you take, cost, and potential side effects. 

For example, Jardiance may be better tolerated and can treat additional conditions besides diabetes, but it has some potential side effects to consider, such as urinary tract infections and yeast infections. Jardiance is also more likely to help with weight loss. 

On the other hand, if cost is a concern, glipizide is quite affordable. However, it comes with a higher risk of low blood sugar episodes and may be associated with weight gain. 

Clinical guidelines recommend metformin over sulfonylureas, such as glipizide. Metformin is also affordable but has several advantages over glipizide. For example, it does not tend to cause low blood sugar, and it also reduces deaths caused by heart attacks and strokes. 

Again, it is important to consult your healthcare provider for medical advice regarding your condition and treatment. 

Jardiance vs. glipizide: Insurance coverage and cost comparison

Jardiance and glipizide are typically covered by insurance and Medicare prescription plans. Out-of-pocket costs vary by plan. You can contact your insurance provider for the most recent information on pricing estimates. 

For those without insurance, a one-month supply of Jardiance costs about $847. However, you can use a free SingleCare coupon to pay a reduced price of $487, saving $360 per month.

For uninsured patients, a one-month supply of glipizide costs about $10. However, a free SingleCare coupon can lower the price to $4 per month.

Jardiance vs. glipizide side effects

The most common Jardiance side effects include genital yeast infections in females and urinary tract infections (UTIs). The most common side effects of glipizide are gastrointestinal and include nausea and diarrhea. Other common glipizide side effects include dizziness, drowsiness, and headache. Glipizide can also cause severely low blood sugar.

With any medication, serious allergic reactions may occur in rare cases. If you have symptoms such as hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling, seek emergency medical attention.

The table below lists some of the common adverse effects of both drugs. This is not a full list of side effects, and others may occur. Consult your healthcare provider for more information and questions about side effects. 

*Range varies by dosage

Source: Jardiance (DailyMed), Glipizide (DailyMed)

Jardiance and glipizide drug interactions

Before you take Jardiance or glipizide, be sure to tell your healthcare provider about all the medications you take, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and supplements. 

Jardiance interacts with certain medications, such as lithium and diuretics (water pills). When taken with insulin or certain diabetes medications, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) could occur.

Glipizide is more likely to cause low blood sugar when combined with certain drugs, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), certain antifungals, beta blockers (commonly used to treat high blood pressure), quinolone or sulfa antibiotics, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). On the other hand, certain drugs combined with glipizide can result in hyperglycemia, also called high blood sugar. Examples include diuretics, steroids, hormonal medicines, phenytoin, and calcium channel blockers.

This is not a full list of drug interactions. Consult your healthcare provider for more information about drug interactions and how they may affect you. 

Jardiance and glipizide drug warnings

Before you take Jardiance or glipizide, tell your healthcare professional about all of your medical conditions and family history. Warnings for each drug are listed below.

Jardiance warnings

• You should not take Jardiance if you are breastfeeding. The prescribing information also notes that Jardiance should not be used by individuals in the second or third trimester of pregnancy.
• Jardiance increases the risk of a life-threatening condition called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), especially in patients with Type 1 diabetes or certain other risk factors. Jardiance is not approved for use in people with Type 1 diabetes.
• Jardiance may cause volume depletion or low fluid volume in the body, which could lead to kidney injury, hospitalization, and dialysis. You may be at higher risk if you have problems with your kidney function, take a loop diuretic, or if you are an older adult. 
• Serious UTIs may occur and should be immediately treated by a healthcare provider.
• Genital yeast infections may occur in men or women and require medical attention. Women may experience vaginal itching, odor, and a cottage cheese-like discharge. Men may notice a rash, pain, redness, itching, or swelling of the penis, as well as a bad-smelling discharge.  
• Fournier’s Gangrene, also called necrotizing fasciitis of the perineum, is a rare but life-threatening infection associated with SGLT2 inhibitors like Jardiance. Symptoms that require emergency medical attention include fever along with pain, redness, or swelling around the genitals or perineal area.
• Routine preventive foot care is necessary since SGLT2 inhibitors, like Jardiance, can increase the risk of lower limb amputation. See your healthcare provider right away for symptoms of a diabetic foot infection, such as pain, tenderness, sores, or ulcers. 

Glipizide warnings

• Generally, glipizide is not prescribed for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding unless recommended by the healthcare provider.
• Sulfonylurea drugs, such as glipizide, can lead to severely low blood sugar—especially in people with liver or kidney problems, older adults, or people with certain other medical conditions. Low blood sugar is more likely to occur when you do not eat enough, after intense or prolonged exercise, when you drink alcohol, or when you take more than one medicine that lowers blood sugar. 

Can you take Jardiance and glipizide together?

Many people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus require more than one drug to control blood sugar levels, especially if they have certain co-occurring conditions. It’s important to note, though, that taking glipizide with Jardiance may increase the risk of hypoglycemia. Your healthcare provider will determine the best treatment for you.