Jardiance vs. Trulicity
See how Jardiance and Trulicity compare on approved uses, dosing, side effects, and cost.
Key Takeaways
Jardiance is a once-daily pill from the SGLT2 inhibitor class, while Trulicity is a once-weekly injection from the GLP-1 receptor agonist class.
Both lower blood sugar in type 2 diabetes and protect the heart, but only Jardiance is approved for heart failure and chronic kidney disease.
Trulicity commonly causes nausea and digestive symptoms, while Jardiance's main risks involve infections, fluid loss, and rare diabetic ketoacidosis.
Jardiance vs. Trulicity Drug Summary
Jardiance
Jardiance (empagliflozin) is an SGLT2 inhibitor that lowers blood sugar by making the kidneys remove more glucose through urine. It is taken as a single tablet once a day and is also approved to protect the heart and kidneys in adults with related conditions.
Trulicity
Trulicity (dulaglutide) is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that helps the body release more insulin and slows digestion to control blood sugar. It comes as a prefilled pen injected under the skin once a week and is also approved to lower cardiovascular risk in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Jardiance vs. Trulicity Side Effects
Jardiance
Trulicity
Jardiance vs. Trulicity Dosage
Jardiance
Trulicity
| 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 | 0.75 mg once weekly | Weeks 1-4 |
| Maximum dose | 1.5 mg once weekly | Week 5 onward |
| Dose changes | 1 increase | Every 4 weeks |
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 |
Trulicity
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 0.75 mg once weekly | Weeks 1-4 |
| Maximum dose | 1.5 mg once weekly | Week 5 onward |
| Dose changes | 1 increase | Every 4 weeks |
Jardiance vs. Trulicity Indications
Jardiance
Jardiance is FDA approved to control blood sugar in adults and children 10 and older with type 2 diabetes. It also carries approvals for reducing cardiovascular death in people with heart disease, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease, making its use broader than blood sugar control alone.
Type 2 diabetes blood sugar control (age 10+)
Reduce cardiovascular death with heart disease
Heart failure, any ejection fraction
Trulicity
Trulicity is FDA approved to control blood sugar in adults and children 10 and older with type 2 diabetes. It is also approved to lower the risk of major cardiovascular events in people with type 2 diabetes who have heart disease or multiple risk factors for it.
Type 2 diabetes blood sugar control (age 10+)
Reduce major cardiovascular events
Weight loss in people without diabetes (off-label)
Jardiance vs. Trulicity Pros and Cons
Jardiance
Jardiance offers a simple once-daily pill with proven benefits beyond blood sugar, including protection for the heart and kidneys. It costs less out of pocket than Trulicity but carries its own risks, particularly around infections and fluid balance.
Pros
Oral tablet, no injections needed
Approved for heart failure and kidney disease
Approved for pediatric type 2 diabetes (age 10+)
Cons
Risk of diabetic ketoacidosis, even with normal glucose
Can cause genital yeast infections and UTIs
Risk of dehydration and low blood pressure
Not recommended in later pregnancy
Trulicity
Trulicity delivers strong blood sugar control and appetite reduction through a once-weekly injection, which some patients prefer over a daily pill. It carries a thyroid tumor warning and tends to cause more digestive side effects, and it costs considerably more out of pocket.
Pros
Only needs to be injected once a week
Tends to reduce appetite and support weight loss
Four dose strengths allow gradual titration
Cons
Boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumors
Contraindicated with personal or family history of MTC or MEN2
Nausea and other GI symptoms are common
Roughly $987 to $1,065 per month without insurance, before savings programs
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