Jardiance vs. Victoza

See how Jardiance and Victoza compare on approved uses, dosing, side effects, and cost.

Key Takeaways

  • Jardiance is a once-daily oral tablet, while Victoza requires a daily injection that starts with a short titration period.

  • Both drugs are approved to reduce cardiovascular risk in adults with type 2 diabetes and heart disease, but Jardiance also has approvals for heart failure and chronic kidney disease.

  • Victoza carries a boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumors, while Jardiance's main warnings involve diabetic ketoacidosis and genital infections.

Jardiance vs. Victoza Drug Summary

Jardiance

Jardiance (empagliflozin) is an SGLT2 inhibitor used to control blood sugar in adults and children 10 and older with type 2 diabetes. It also carries approvals for reducing cardiovascular death, heart failure hospitalization, and chronic kidney disease progression. It comes as an oral tablet taken once daily.

Victoza

Victoza (liraglutide) is a GLP-1 receptor agonist used to improve blood sugar control in adults and children 10 and older with type 2 diabetes. It is also approved to reduce major cardiovascular events in people with type 2 diabetes and existing heart disease. It is given as a once-daily subcutaneous injection that starts at a low dose and increases over a few weeks.

Jardiance vs. Victoza Side Effects

Jardiance

Most common
hypoglycemia (up to 41.3%)
volume depletion (up to 11.4%)
urinary tract infection (up to 9.3%)
genital mycotic infection (up to 5.4%)

Victoza

Most common
diarrhea (up to 11.7%)
nausea (up to 5%)
vomiting (up to 5%)
decreased appetite (up to 5%)

Jardiance vs. Victoza 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

Victoza

Dosage
Dosage Table
STAGE DOSE WHEN
Starting dose 0.6 mg once daily Week 1
Maximum dose 1.8 mg once daily Week 3 onward
Dose changes 2 increases Every week

Jardiance vs. Victoza Indications

Jardiance

Jardiance is FDA-approved for blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes and for reducing cardiovascular death in people with heart disease. It also has approvals for heart failure regardless of ejection fraction and for slowing chronic kidney disease progression. It is not approved for type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis.

  • Blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes (ages 10+)

  • Reduce cardiovascular death in type 2 diabetes with heart disease

  • Reduce cardiovascular death and hospitalization in heart failure

  • Slow chronic kidney disease progression

Victoza

Victoza is FDA-approved as an add-on to diet and exercise for blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes. It also reduces the risk of major cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes and existing heart disease. It is not approved for type 1 diabetes.

  • Blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes (ages 10+)

  • Reduce major cardiovascular events in type 2 diabetes with heart disease

  • Adjunct to diet and exercise

  • Approved for pediatric patients 10 and older

Jardiance vs. Victoza Pros and Cons

Jardiance

Jardiance offers broad FDA approvals beyond diabetes, including heart failure and chronic kidney disease, and its oral form appeals to people who want to avoid injections. It carries risks like genital infections and diabetic ketoacidosis, and can cause volume depletion in people prone to dehydration.

Pros

  • Oral tablet, no injections needed

  • Approved for heart failure regardless of ejection fraction

  • Approved to slow chronic kidney disease progression

  • Roughly $350 to $620 per month without insurance, less than Victoza

Cons

  • Risk of diabetic ketoacidosis, even without high blood sugar

  • Risk of serious genital and urinary infections

  • Can cause volume depletion, risky for elderly or kidney patients

  • Not approved for weight management

Victoza

Victoza has demonstrated cardiovascular benefit in adults with type 2 diabetes and heart disease, and its GLP-1 mechanism often supports modest weight loss. It requires daily injections and carries a boxed warning for thyroid tumors, and its monthly cost is notably higher than Jardiance's.

Pros

  • May support modest weight loss as a side benefit

  • Proven reduction in major cardiovascular events (LEADER trial)

  • Approved for pediatric patients 10 and older

  • Longer real-world use history since 2010 approval

Cons

  • Requires daily injection with titration schedule

  • Boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumor risk

  • Contraindicated with personal or family history of MTC/MEN2

  • Roughly $935 to $1,470 per month without insurance, more than Jardiance

Common Symptoms and Related Diseases You Can Explore

Explore a range of common symptoms the Doctronic Symptom Checker can help you understand.