Skip to main content
Drug Info

Jardiance alternatives: What can I take instead of Jardiance?

Looking for an alternative to Jardiance? Compare top diabetes medications based on cost, effectiveness, and side effects.
Marissa Walsh headshot
By | Updated on Oct. 24, 2025 Medically reviewed by Karen Berger, Pharm.D.

Key takeaways

  • Jardiance (empagliflozin) is a brand-name SGLT2 inhibitor used to manage blood sugar and reduce heart and kidney risks.

  • Some of the most common alternatives to Jardiance include Farxiga, Ozempic, Mounjaro, Januvia, and metformin.

  • Alternatives come in different forms, including oral medicines, once-daily or once-weekly injections, and combination medications that contain more than one active ingredient.

In this article:

Jardiance is a brand-name medication made by the pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals. This prescription drug is part of a class of medicines called sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. It contains the active ingredient empagliflozin, but there is no generic version available. Jardiance is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to improve blood sugar control in people with Type 2 diabetes. It is also FDA-approved to lower the risk of heart and kidney problems in people with diabetes, heart failure, or kidney disease. Sometimes, Jardiance may be too costly, even with insurance coverage. Or perhaps you cannot take or tolerate it. If you are interested in exploring alternatives to Jardiance, the good news is that there are many other drugs you can discuss with your healthcare provider.

Save on diabetes drugs & supplies

What can I take instead of Jardiance?

If you cannot take Jardiance, there are other options available that can help people with Type 2 diabetes manage blood sugar levels. Alternatives include other SGLT2 inhibitors, or drugs from other classes of medicines that lower blood sugar. There are both oral and injectable options as well. Among these choices, one of them may be more suitable for your needs. The table below lists some of the common alternatives to Jardiance. 

Compare Jardiance alternatives
Drug name Price without insurance SingleCare price Savings options
Jardiance (empagliflozin) $867 for 30, 25 mg tablets $528 for 30, 25 mg tablets of brand-name Jardiance at Kroger See latest prices
Actos (pioglitazone) $2,111 for 90, 30 mg tablets $29 for 90, 30 mg tablets of generic pioglitazone at Food Lion See latest prices
Farxiga (dapagliflozin) $835 for 30, 10 mg tablets $360 for 30, 10 mg tablets of generic dapagliflozin at Walgreens See latest prices
Januvia (sitagliptin) $731 for 30, 100 mg tablets $286 for 30, 100 mg tablets of brand-name Januvia at Kroger See latest prices
Metformin $165 for 60, 500 mg tablets $10 for 180, 1000 mg tablets of generic metformin at Kroger See latest prices
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) $1,529 for 4, 0.5 mL of 5 mg/0.5mL $875 for 4, 0.5 mL of 5 mg/0.5mL of brand-name Mounjaro at CVS See latest prices
Ozempic (semaglutide) $1,400 for 1, 3 mL of 2 mg/3mL $825 for 1, 3 mL of 2 mg/3mL of brand-name Ozempic at CVS See latest prices
Rybelsus (semaglutide) $1,404 for 30, 7 mg tablets $874 for 30, 7 mg tablets of brand-name Rybelsus at Kroger See latest prices
Tradjenta (linagliptin) $719 for 30, 5 mg tablets $516 for 30, 5 mg tablets of brand-name Tradjenta at Kroger See latest prices
Trulicity (dulaglutide) $1,405 for 4, 0.5 mL of 1.5 mg/0.5 mL $777 for 4, 0.5 mL of 1.5 mg/0.5 mL of brand-name Trulicity at Walgreens See latest prices
Victoza (liraglutide) $1,438 for 3, 3 mL of 18 mg/3mL $92 for 3, 3 mL of 18 mg/3mL of generic liraglutide at CVS See latest prices

<small>Prescription drug prices often change. These are the most accurate medication prices at the time of publishing in ZIP code 23666 as of October 24, 2025. The listed price without insurance references the price of brand-name drugs (unless otherwise specified). The listed SingleCare price references the price of generic drugs if available.</small>

Other alternatives to Jardiance

  • Acarbose
  • Adlyxin (lixisenatide)
  • Byetta (exenatide)
  • Diabeta (glyburide)
  • Glimepiride
  • Glucotrol XL (glipizide extended-release)
  • Glyset (miglitol)
  • Glyxambi (empagliflozin/linagliptin)
  • Invokana (canagliflozin)
  • Invokamet (canagliflozin/metformin)
  • Janumet (sitagliptin/metformin)
  • Jentadueto (linagliptin/metformin)
  • Kazano (alogliptin/metformin)
  • Lantus (insulin glargine)
  • Nateglinide
  • Nesina (alogliptin)
  • Novolog (insulin lispro)
  • Repaglinide
  • Saxagliptin
  • Steglatro (ertugliflozin)
  • Synjardy (empagliflozin/metformin)
  • Xigduo XR (dapagliflozin/metformin extended-release)

Save up to 80% on Jardiance with SingleCare

Different pharmacies offer different prices for the same medication. SingleCare helps find the best price for you.

Jardiance 25 mg (30 Tablets)
23666 - Hampton, VA
$528.10
Get free coupon
$528.10
Get free coupon
See Jardiance prices at all pharmacies

Top 5 Jardiance alternatives

The following are some of the most common alternatives to Jardiance.

1. Farxiga 

Farxiga, like Jardiance, is an SGLT2 inhibitor. However, Farxiga has a generic version available—dapagliflozin. If you find that Jardiance is working well, but is too expensive, generic Farxiga may be a lower-cost option on your health insurance plan. 

Farxiga, which is taken by mouth once daily, is FDA-approved for Type 2 diabetes. Farxiga also has other FDA-approved uses, including reducing complications in people with heart failure, heart disease, and kidney disease. Because Farxiga is in the same drug class as Jardiance, side effects are similar. The most common adverse effects of Farxiga include vaginal yeast infections, yeast infections of the penis, common cold symptoms, and urinary tract infections or changes in urination—typically, urinating more often, in larger amounts, or at night. 

2. Ozempic

Ozempic is a GLP-1 agonist that contains the active ingredient semaglutide. It is a brand-name drug made by Novo Nordisk. Ozempic is a once-weekly injection. If you use Ozempic, your healthcare provider will start you at the lowest dose, gradually increasing your dose as needed to control blood sugar. 

Ozempic is FDA-approved for improving blood glucose levels in people with Type 2 diabetes. It’s also FDA-approved to reduce the risk of further kidney problems and cardiovascular death in people with both Type 2 diabetes and kidney disease. Ozempic can also be used to lower the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (stroke, heart attack, cardiovascular death) in adult patients with Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Ozempic is often prescribed off-label for weight loss. 

The most common side effects of Ozempic are stomach-related and include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, and stomach pain. 

Ozempic has a black box warning, the most serious warning required by the FDA. In animal studies, Ozempic has been found to cause a certain type of thyroid cancer. Although the risk is uncertain in humans, people with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2) or a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma should not use Ozempic. 

3. Mounjaro

Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is known as a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. It is FDA-approved to control blood sugar in adults with Type 2 diabetes. Healthcare providers often prescribe this medicine off-label for weight loss. Mounjaro, made by Eli Lilly, is only available as a brand-name drug, and is administered once weekly by injection under the skin. As with Ozempic, doctors will start with a low dosage, gradually increasing as needed. 

Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, indigestion, stomach pain, and a decrease in appetite. Mounjaro has the same black box warning as Ozempic in regard to thyroid tumors.

4. Januvia

Januvia is part of a class of drugs called dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. Januvia is a brand-name drug that contains the active ingredient sitagliptin—but no generic is available at this time. Made by Merck Sharp & Dohme, Januvia is taken by mouth daily. Januvia is FDA-approved to improve blood sugar control in adults with Type 2 diabetes. The ingredient in Januvia, sitagliptin, is also available as an active ingredient in various combination drugs.

Common adverse reactions include upper respiratory infection, stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, and headache. 

5. Metformin

Metformin, a biguanide, is a generic drug that is taken by mouth. Metformin is FDA-approved to improve blood sugar control in adults and children 10 years and older with Type 2 diabetes, and is a common first choice of treatment. Clinical trials have found metformin to be effective in lowering blood sugar and hemoglobin A1c (a measure of blood sugar control over three months), and a bonus is that it is low cost. Metformin is available in immediate-release and extended-release forms, and is also an active ingredient in various combination drugs. 

Some individuals take Jardiance along with metformin, if additional blood sugar control is needed. This can be done by taking both Jardiance and metformin separately—or as a combination drug, Synjardy or Synjardy XR. Another drug, Trijardy XR, combines empagliflozin (the active ingredient in Jardiance), metformin, and the DPP-4 inhibitor linagliptin.

Common side effects of metformin include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, gas, indigestion, and stomach discomfort. Metformin is also associated with a rare but serious side effect called lactic acidosis, which requires emergency treatment in the hospital. Lactic acidosis symptoms include feeling unwell, stomach pain, muscle pain, sleepiness, and trouble breathing. Certain people are at higher risk for lactic acidosis, including people who drink excess alcohol and people with kidney problems.

Natural alternatives to Jardiance

A new diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes mellitus can feel overwhelming, especially the thought of taking medications and monitoring your blood glucose every day. Fortunately, the diagnosis may be reversible with some lifestyle changes and dietary modifications, especially efforts made to achieve a healthy weight.  Many people turn to natural alternatives for the management of a Type 2 diabetes mellitus diagnosis, including vitamins and supplements. This should be done with caution and in discussion with healthcare professionals since some vitamins can cause side effects like lower blood sugar when taken with medications, or may even act counterintuitively (by causing high blood sugar). And natural options should never replace medications prescribed by your healthcare provider.

There has been some interest regarding apple cider vinegar (ACV) and its ability to lower blood glucose in patients with diabetes. According to the American Heart Association, ACV may slightly reduce fasting blood sugar and A1C. If you consume ACV, it is best to include it in your diet. For example, you can add some ACV to your salad dressings and pour it over salad or vegetables. If you choose to drink ACV, it is important to dilute it with water to avoid damaging your esophagus or tooth enamel. 

How to switch to a Jardiance alternative

With so many options for the management of Type 2 diabetes mellitus, any interest in changing medications should be discussed at length with a healthcare provider. Transitions between medications, including how to stop and start a new medication, should be carefully outlined. Abruptly stopping Jardiance may require an increase in other medications you might be taking so as not to cause prolonged periods of high blood sugar and until any new medication takes its effects. As always, the medical advice of a professional should be considered to devise a plan when changing prescription drugs to avoid any unnecessary side effects. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, as well as all the medicines you take, including prescription medications, OTC drugs, and vitamins or supplements.

Choosing the right path for Type 2 diabetes treatment

If Jardiance is not the best drug for you, the good news is that there are many alternative diabetes medications to consider. In addition to drugs in the same class as Jardiance, there are drugs in other classes that work in different ways and have different side effects. Some treatments even combine drugs from more than one class into a single pill, as many people need more than one medicine to effectively manage blood sugar.  Additionally, there are both oral and injectable options, with injectable options that are dosed daily or weekly. It is important to consult with your healthcare provider, who can take into account your medical history and other individual considerations, to find the best treatment for you.