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
Victoza
Jardiance vs. Victoza Dosage
Jardiance
Victoza
| 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 | 0.6 mg once daily | Week 1 |
| Maximum dose | 1.8 mg once daily | Week 3 onward |
| Dose changes | 2 increases | Every week |
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 |
Victoza
| 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
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