Which is better? Ozempic or Jardiance

When it comes to managing type 2 diabetes mellitus, the array of options can feel overwhelming. Among them, two names frequently emerge: Ozempic and Jardiance. While these medications share common ground in their aim to help control blood sugar levels, their mechanisms of action take divergent paths. Navigating the decision between Ozempic and Jardiance requires a clear understanding of their unique characteristics, benefits, and modes of operation.

Overview of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a condition that affects how your body uses the sugars you get from your food. Normally, after you eat, your body releases insulin, a hormone that tells your cells to use and store the sugars from your meal. When sugar levels drop, another hormone called "glucagon" is released. This signals your body to release stored sugars for energy.

In the case of type 2 diabetes, your body doesn't respond properly to insulin's signals. This leads to high sugar levels in your blood after eating and low levels between meals because stored sugars aren't used effectively. These fluctuations can be risky and cause the symptoms associated with type 2 diabetes. To manage diabetes, doctors monitor your blood sugar levels, which provide a snapshot of your current sugar levels, and your A1C, which reflects your average blood sugar control over about three months.

How Does Ozempic Work?

Ozempic is the brand name for a medication called “semaglutide” and belongs to the class of medications known as “glucagon-like peptide-1” (GLP-1) receptor agonists. These medications work to increase insulin secretion and decrease glucagon production after meals, when blood sugar rises. This helps to make use of sugar from food as well as store it away for use between meals.

Because of this sugar-reducing effect, Ozempic is effective at lowering your day-to-day blood sugar, as well as your longer-term A1C. As an added bonus, Ozempic has also shown major protective benefits from heart and kidney disease in those who already have some form of heart disease.

Common Side Effects of Jardiance

Many of Jardiance’s side effects are a result of its mechanism of action—increasing the excretion of sugar in the urine. This elevated sugar content in the urine can create an environment favorable for the growth of bacteria and yeast, potentially raising the risk of infection.

• Urinary tract infections
• Genital fungal (yeast) infections
• Nausea
• Increased thirst
• Increased urine output
• Elevated cholesterol levels
• Weight loss

How Does Jardiance Work?

Jardiance, or "empagliflozin," falls under the category of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. These medications are gaining popularity for managing type 2 diabetes and congestive heart failure. In the context of diabetes, they function by increasing the excretion of sugar in urine, thus reducing the overall sugar content in the body. This mechanism contributes to lower blood sugar readings and improved long-term A1C levels.

Jardiance also leads to the elimination of sodium through urine, triggering a sequence of effects that confer a protective shield on the heart. Therefore, much like Ozempic, Jardiance plays a role in safeguarding the heart and kidneys, particularly in individuals dealing with heart failure and chronic kidney disease.

Learn earn more about Jardiance

Which Option is More Convenient?

Jardiance is administered orally, in the form of a daily tablet. This simplicity makes it highly convenient for most individuals, especially those accustomed to taking multiple oral medications. Jardiance also comes in as a combination pill called Synjardy, which includes metformin, a common diabetes medication. This can be particularly beneficial for those who find pill-taking overwhelming.

Ozempic, in contrast, comes is an injectable medication. This is self-injected under the skin on the same day once per week. While some people prefer oral medication, others don’t mind the less frequent injection as it allows for more day-to-day flexibility.

Comparing Side Effects

Most of the side effects from Jardiance occur as a result of the way the medication works. Since you are urinating out so much sugar, the genital region becomes a great environment for bacteria and yeast to grow, increasing the risk of infection.

Jardiance

• Nausea
• Increased thirst
• Urinary tract infections
• Genital fungal (yeast) infections
• Increased urine
• Electrolyte abnormalities
  Electrolyte (potassium, sodium, magnesium) abnormalities are rare but serious side effects of Jardiance. Increased confusion, dizziness, heart palpitations, or urine changes may indicate electrolyte abnormalities and require immediate medical intervention.

Ozempic

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Decreased appetite
• Injection site pain
• Weight loss
  Weight loss is a common side effect of Ozempic and is often a contributing factor as to why people choose this medication for their diabetes control.

Weight Loss: A Desirable Side Effect of Ozempic

Unlike most medications, one of the side effects for Ozempic is actually desired for some people. This side effect, weight loss, is often beneficial as many people with type 2 diabetes also struggle with obesity. While weight loss is not an FDA-approved indication of the medication, some physicians prescribe Ozempic “off-label” to be used for weight loss in individuals who may or may not have type 2 diabetes.

The mechanism of this weight loss is likely due to the decrease in appetite that occurs with Ozempic. This makes you eat fewer calories as you have less food cravings, particularly for typically high-calorie food items.

How much weight will Ozempic actually make you lose? In general, those who take a high dose of Ozempic (1.0 mg per week) will lose 9.9 – 14.0 lbs within 26-40 weeks of taking the medication. However, this depends on a number of factors, including your baseline weight as well as the other medications you may be taking.

Jardiance causes moderate weight loss. Studies have shown that Jardiance reduces weight to a similar extent as the oral Ozempic called Rybelsus. This showed a reduction of roughly 8.1 lbs within 26 weeks of taking the medication.

Comparing the Price

At a typical pharmacy, the price of Jardiance for a one-month supply of medication is roughly $700. This amount stays consistent regardless of the dose.

On the other hand, at the typical dose of Ozempic a one-month supply would cost you closer to $1100. Since Ozempic pens come in set-volumes, if you use an increased dose (greater than 0.5mg per week) you may be paying double this for a monthly supply.

Prices mentioned in this article are based on average retail price at major box chain pharmacy in the U.S. as of July 18, 2023.