Glipizide Vs. Jardiance: Drug Comparison

Glipizide is the active ingredient in the brand-name medication Glucotrol XL^®. The information below is about brand name Glucotrol XL. According to the FDA, “Generic medicines use the same active ingredients as brand-name medicines and work the same way, so they have the same risks and benefits as the brand-name medicines.”

Glucotrol XL (glipizide) is an oral medication used to manage blood sugar levels in individuals with type 2 diabetes. It belongs to the sulfonylurea class of drugs and works by stimulating the pancreas to release insulin, thereby lowering blood glucose levels. The recommended starting dose of Glucotrol XL is 5 mg once daily, taken with breakfast or the first meal of the day. Dose adjustments can be made based on the patient's blood sugar control, with a maximum recommended dose of 20 mg once daily. Regular monitoring and dosage adjustments are crucial to achieving optimal blood sugar control and minimizing the risk of low blood sugar.

Jardiance^® (empagliflozin) is an oral medication used to improve blood sugar control in adults and pediatric patients aged 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes mellitus, as an adjunct to diet and exercise. It is also indicated to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death in adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease. Additionally, Jardiance helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization for heart failure in adults with heart failure. It is also used to reduce the risk of sustained decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), end-stage kidney disease, cardiovascular death, and hospitalization in adults with chronic kidney disease at risk of progression. This medication works as a sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, promoting the excretion of glucose through the urine​.

Sulfonylurea

Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor

Glucotrol XL (glipizide) is indicated:

• As an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Jardiance (empagliflozin) is indicated:

• To reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization for heart failure in adults with heart failure

• To reduce the risk of sustained decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), end-stage kidney disease, cardiovascular death, and hospitalization in adults with chronic kidney disease at risk of progression

• To reduce the risk of cardiovascular death in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and established cardiovascular disease

• As an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults and pediatric patients aged 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes mellitus

• Typically taken orally once daily

• Comes in 2.5 mg, 5 mg, and 10 mg tablets

• Typically taken orally once daily

• Comes in 10 mg and 25 mg tablets

Most common adverse reactions (incidence >3%) are:

• Dizziness

• Diarrhea

• Nervousness

• Tremor

• Low blood sugar

• Flatulence

Most common adverse reactions (5% or greater incidence) were:

• Urinary tract infections

• Female genital fungal infections

• Known hypersensitivity to glipizide or any of the product's ingredients

• Hypersensitivity to sulfonamide derivatives

• Drug interactions: Certain medications may affect glucose metabolism, miconazole, fluconazole, colesevelam

• Hypersensitivity to empagliflozin or any of the excipients in Jardiance

• See the Full Prescribing Information for information on drug interactions and interference of Jardiance with laboratory tests

• Low blood sugar: May be severe

• Hemolytic anemia: Can occur if glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficient

• Potential increased risk of cardiovascular mortality with sulfonylureas

• Macrovascular outcomes: No clinical studies have established conclusive evidence of macrovascular risk reduction with Glucotrol XL

• Diabetic ketoacidosis in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and other ketoacidosis

• Volume depletion

• Urosepsis and pyelonephritis

• Low blood sugar

• Necrotizing fasciitis of the perineum (Fournier's gangrene)

• Genital fungal infections

• Lower limb amputation

• Hypersensitivity reactions

• Pregnancy: Potential risk to a fetus especially during the second and third trimesters

• Breastfeeding: Not recommended when breastfeeding

*This information is from the label for brand name Glucotrol XL^®. See the Full Prescribing Information for more complete information. Glipizide, the active ingredient in Glucotrol XL, may also be the active ingredient in other medications, and this information may not be accurate for all medications that include the active ingredient glipizide.

*This information is from the label for brand name Jardiance^®. See the Full Prescribing Information for more complete information.