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Jardiance Vs. Trulicity: Drug Comparison

Compare common side effects, interactions, warnings, and more.

Medical Review byMike Bohl, MD, MBA, MPH, MS, ALMNov 4, 2024

Medication Name

Jardiance

*image for illustrative purpose only

Trulicity

*image for illustrative purpose only

Jardiance

*image for illustrative purpose only

Trulicity

*image for illustrative purpose only

Summary

Prescription only

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​.

Prescription only

Trulicity® (dulaglutide) is an injectable medication used to improve blood sugar control in adults and pediatric patients aged 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes, alongside diet and exercise. It acts as a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, enhancing insulin secretion, slowing gastric emptying, and reducing glucagon production. Additionally, Trulicity is indicated to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, such as heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death in adults with type 2 diabetes who have established cardiovascular disease or multiple cardiovascular risk factors. Administered once weekly, Trulicity can be used alone or with other diabetes medications. Common side effects include gastrointestinal issues like nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. It should be used cautiously in individuals with a history of pancreatitis​.

Drug Category

Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist

Approved Uses

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

Trulicity (dulaglutide) is indicated:

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

  • To reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus who have established cardiovascular disease or multiple cardiovascular risk factors

Dosage

  • Typically taken orally once daily

  • Comes in 10 mg and 25 mg tablets

  • Typically taken as an injection once weekly

  • Comes in 0.75 mg, 1.5 mg, 3 mg, and 4.5 mg per 0.5 mL single-dose pens

Known Common Side Effects

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

  • Urinary tract infections

  • Female genital fungal infections

Most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥5%) are:

  • Nausea

  • Diarrhea

  • Vomiting

  • Abdominal pain

  • Decreased appetite

Interactions & Contraindications

  • 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

  • Patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2

  • Patients with a serious hypersensitivity reaction to dulaglutide or any of the product components

  • Drug interactions: Trulicity delays gastric emptying and has the potential to reduce the rate of absorption of concomitantly administered oral medications

Warnings & Precautions

  • 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

  • Thyroid C-cell tumors

  • Pancreatitis

  • Low blood sugar: Concomitant use with an insulin secretagogue or insulin may increase the risk of low blood sugar, including severe low blood sugar

  • Hypersensitivity reactions

  • Acute kidney injury

  • Severe gastrointestinal disease

  • Diabetic retinopathy complications

  • Acute gallbladder disease

  • Pregnancy: Should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to fetus

Boxed Warning

WARNING: RISK OF THYROID C-CELL TUMORS

Dulaglutide causes thyroid C-cell tumors in rats. It is unknown whether Trulicity causes thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), in humans as the human relevance of dulaglutide-induced rodent thyroid C-cell tumors has not been determined.

Trulicity is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of MTC and in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Counsel patients regarding the potential risk of MTC and symptoms of thyroid tumors.

References

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

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

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