Jardiance vs. Amaryl
See how Jardiance and Amaryl compare on approved uses, dosing, side effects, and cost.
Key Takeaways
Jardiance is an SGLT2 inhibitor that lowers blood sugar and also reduces cardiovascular and kidney risks, while Amaryl is a sulfonylurea that only lowers blood sugar.
Amaryl carries a higher risk of hypoglycemia and weight gain than Jardiance, which is largely weight neutral and has a lower hypoglycemia risk when used alone.
Amaryl is available as a low-cost generic, while Jardiance costs more but offers added heart and kidney protection beyond blood sugar control.
Jardiance vs. Amaryl Drug Summary
Jardiance
Jardiance (empagliflozin) is an SGLT2 inhibitor that lowers blood sugar by causing the kidneys to remove excess glucose through urine. It is taken as one oral tablet daily and is also approved to reduce cardiovascular death, heart failure hospitalization, and kidney disease progression in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Amaryl
Amaryl (glimepiride) is a sulfonylurea that lowers blood sugar by prompting the pancreas to release more insulin. It is taken as one oral tablet daily, used together with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Jardiance vs. Amaryl Side Effects
Jardiance
Amaryl
Jardiance vs. Amaryl Dosage
Jardiance
Amaryl
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 10 mg once daily | At the start |
| Maximum dose | 25 mg once daily | If needed |
| Dose changes | 1 increase | As tolerated |
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 1 mg or 2 mg once daily | At the start |
| Maximum dose | 8 mg once daily | If needed |
| Dose changes | 2 increases | As tolerated |
Jardiance
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 10 mg once daily | At the start |
| Maximum dose | 25 mg once daily | If needed |
| Dose changes | 1 increase | As tolerated |
Amaryl
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 1 mg or 2 mg once daily | At the start |
| Maximum dose | 8 mg once daily | If needed |
| Dose changes | 2 increases | As tolerated |
Jardiance vs. Amaryl Indications
Jardiance
Jardiance is FDA-approved for blood sugar control in adults and children age 10 and older with type 2 diabetes. It also carries approvals for reducing cardiovascular death in patients with heart disease, reducing heart failure hospitalization regardless of ejection fraction, and slowing chronic kidney disease progression.
Blood sugar control in adults and children 10+
Reduces cardiovascular death risk with heart disease
Reduces heart failure hospitalization risk
Slows chronic kidney disease progression
Amaryl
Amaryl is FDA-approved only as an adjunct to diet and exercise for blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes. It does not carry any cardiovascular, kidney, or heart failure indications, and it is sometimes combined with insulin when sulfonylurea or insulin alone is not enough.
Adjunct to diet and exercise for glycemic control
Approved for adults with type 2 diabetes only
Can be combined with insulin in certain patients
Not approved for cardiovascular or kidney indications
Jardiance vs. Amaryl Pros and Cons
Jardiance
Jardiance offers proven cardiovascular and kidney benefits beyond blood sugar control, making it a strong option for patients with heart or kidney disease. It carries a low risk of hypoglycemia when used alone, but cost and insurance coverage can be a barrier for some patients.
Pros
Reduces cardiovascular death risk in heart disease
Slows chronic kidney disease progression
Low hypoglycemia risk when used without insulin
Generally weight neutral or promotes modest weight loss
Cons
Roughly $350 to $620 per month without insurance
Can cause genital yeast infections and UTIs
Risk of diabetic ketoacidosis, even without high blood sugar
Not approved for type 1 diabetes
Amaryl
Amaryl is a well-established, inexpensive option for lowering blood sugar, but it does not offer any cardiovascular or kidney benefits. It carries a higher risk of hypoglycemia and weight gain than newer diabetes medications like Jardiance.
Pros
Roughly $15 to $110 per month, low-cost generic
Decades of clinical use and prescribing experience
Can be combined with insulin if needed
Once-daily oral dosing
Cons
Higher risk of hypoglycemia, especially in elderly patients
Associated with weight gain
No cardiovascular or kidney protective benefits
Possible increased cardiovascular mortality risk (class warning)
Common Symptoms and Related Diseases You Can Explore
Explore a range of common symptoms the Doctronic Symptom Checker can help you understand.