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
Jardiance
Mounjaro vs. Jardiance Dosage
Mounjaro
Jardiance
| 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 |
| 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
| 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
| 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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