Mounjaro vs. Jardiance

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

Key Takeaways

  • Mounjaro is a once-weekly injected GIP/GLP-1 agonist for type 2 diabetes, while Jardiance is a once-daily oral SGLT2 inhibitor with added heart and kidney benefits.

  • Mounjaro tends to cause more gastrointestinal side effects like nausea and diarrhea, while Jardiance's main risks are urinary and genital infections and low blood sugar when combined with other diabetes drugs.

  • Jardiance costs significantly less out of pocket than Mounjaro and is FDA-approved for heart failure and chronic kidney disease, conditions Mounjaro does not treat.

Mounjaro vs. Jardiance Drug Summary

Mounjaro

Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist approved to control blood sugar in adults and children 10 and older with type 2 diabetes. It is injected once a week and is often used off-label for weight loss in people without diabetes.

Jardiance

Jardiance (empagliflozin) is an SGLT2 inhibitor taken as a once-daily pill for adults and children 10 and older with type 2 diabetes. It is also approved to lower cardiovascular death risk in heart failure and to slow chronic kidney disease progression.

Mounjaro vs. Jardiance Side Effects

Mounjaro

Most common
Nausea (12-18%)
Diarrhea (12-17%)
Decreased appetite (8-11%)
Vomiting (5-9%)

Jardiance

Most common
Urinary tract infection (9.3%)
Female genital mycotic infection (5.4%)
Increased urination (1% to 10%)
Dyslipidemia (1% to 10%)

Mounjaro vs. Jardiance Dosage

Mounjaro

Dosage
Dosage Table
STAGE DOSE WHEN
Starting dose 2.5 mg once weekly Weeks 1-4
Maximum dose 15 mg once weekly Week 21 onward
Dose changes 5 increases Every 4 weeks

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

Mounjaro vs. Jardiance Indications

Mounjaro

Mounjaro is FDA-approved to improve blood sugar control in adults and children 10 and older with type 2 diabetes. It is not approved for type 1 diabetes. Doctors sometimes prescribe it off-label for weight loss in people without diabetes.

  • Type 2 diabetes blood sugar control in adults

  • Type 2 diabetes in children 10 and older

  • Off-label weight loss in adults without diabetes

Jardiance

Jardiance treats type 2 diabetes in adults and children 10 and older. It also carries approvals to reduce cardiovascular death in heart failure and to slow the progression of chronic kidney disease. It is not approved for type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis.

  • Type 2 diabetes blood sugar control in adults and children 10+

  • Reduce cardiovascular death risk with heart disease

  • Reduce cardiovascular death and hospitalization in heart failure

Mounjaro vs. Jardiance Pros and Cons

Mounjaro

Mounjaro offers strong blood sugar control along with significant weight loss, thanks to its dual incretin action. It requires a weekly injection and carries a boxed warning for thyroid tumors seen in animal studies.

Pros

  • Dual GIP/GLP-1 action often leads to more weight loss

  • Only one injection needed per week

  • Also approved as Zepbound for weight management

Cons

  • Boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumor risk

  • Not approved for heart failure or kidney disease

  • Roughly $1,000 to $1,300 per month without insurance

Jardiance

Jardiance controls blood sugar with a once-daily pill and adds proven cardiovascular and kidney protection. It carries risks of genital and urinary infections and, rarely, ketoacidosis even with normal blood sugar.

Pros

  • Once-daily oral pill, no injections

  • Proven to reduce heart failure hospitalization and death

  • Approved to slow chronic kidney disease progression

Cons

  • Risk of genital yeast infections and UTIs

  • Risk of diabetic ketoacidosis even with normal blood sugar

  • Not associated with substantial weight loss

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