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

Most common
hypoglycemia with insulin or sulfonylurea (up to 41.3%)
volume depletion related reactions (up to 11.4%)
urinary tract infection (up to 9.3%)
female genital mycotic infection (up to 5.4%)

Amaryl

Most common
hypoglycemia (up to 19.7%)
accidental injury at 8 mg dose (up to 16%)
dizziness (5% or more)
asthenia (5% or more)

Jardiance vs. Amaryl Dosage

Jardiance

Dosage
Dosage Table
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

Dosage
Dosage Table
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

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