Jardiance vs. Glipizide
See how Jardiance and Glipizide compare on approved uses, dosing, side effects, and cost.
Key Takeaways
Jardiance is an SGLT2 inhibitor with added heart and kidney benefits, while Glipizide is a sulfonylurea used only for blood sugar control.
Jardiance is taken once daily with no titration, while Glipizide often requires dose adjustments to find the right amount.
Glipizide costs far less per month than Jardiance, but carries a higher risk of hypoglycemia.
Jardiance vs. Glipizide Drug Summary
Jardiance
Jardiance (empagliflozin) is an SGLT2 inhibitor that lowers blood sugar by causing the kidneys to remove excess glucose through urine. It's taken as one tablet by mouth once a day with no dose titration required. Beyond diabetes, it's approved to reduce cardiovascular death, heart failure hospitalization, and kidney disease progression.
Glipizide
Glipizide is a sulfonylurea that lowers blood sugar by prompting the pancreas to release more insulin. It's taken as an immediate-release tablet once or twice daily, or an extended-release tablet once daily, with doses adjusted over time. It's approved only for blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes, alongside diet and exercise.
Jardiance vs. Glipizide Side Effects
Jardiance
Glipizide
Jardiance vs. Glipizide Dosage
Jardiance
Glipizide
| 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 | 5 mg once daily | At the start |
| Maximum dose | 5-20 mg once daily | If needed |
| Dose changes | 5 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 |
Glipizide
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 5 mg once daily | At the start |
| Maximum dose | 5-20 mg once daily | If needed |
| Dose changes | 5 increases | As tolerated |
Jardiance vs. Glipizide Indications
Jardiance
Jardiance treats type 2 diabetes and carries several approvals beyond glucose control, including heart failure and chronic kidney disease. It's often chosen for patients who need cardiovascular or kidney protection in addition to blood sugar management.
Blood sugar control in adults and children 10+ with type 2 diabetes
Reduce cardiovascular death risk in adults with type 2 diabetes and heart disease
Reduce cardiovascular death and hospitalization in heart failure
Glipizide
Glipizide is approved only for blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes, used alongside diet and exercise. It carries no cardiovascular or kidney-protection approvals.
Blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes
Used as an adjunct to diet and exercise
Available in immediate-release and extended-release forms
Jardiance vs. Glipizide Pros and Cons
Jardiance
Jardiance offers added cardiovascular and kidney benefits beyond glucose control, with simple once-daily dosing and no titration. It carries risks of genital infections and volume depletion, and it costs significantly more than older generic options.
Pros
One pill, once a day, no dose adjustments needed
Reduces risk of cardiovascular death and heart failure hospitalization
Slows progression of chronic kidney disease
Cons
Can cause genital yeast infections and urinary tract infections
Risk of dehydration and low blood pressure, especially in older adults
Rare risk of diabetic ketoacidosis even without high blood sugar
Roughly $350 to $620 per month without insurance, before savings programs
Glipizide
Glipizide is inexpensive and has decades of clinical use behind it, but it requires more careful titration and carries meaningful hypoglycemia risk in older or frail patients. It also lacks any cardiovascular or kidney-protective benefit.
Pros
Roughly $10 to $35 per month, one of the cheapest diabetes pills
Decades of real-world use and prescribing experience
Available in extended-release form for once-daily dosing
Cons
Higher risk of hypoglycemia, especially in older or frail patients
Requires dose titration over multiple visits to find the right amount
No cardiovascular or kidney protection benefits
Class linked to a possible cardiovascular mortality signal in older studies
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