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.
Jardiance is a brand-name oral 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, and 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 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.
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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 and drugs from other classes of medicines that lower blood sugar. These options include both oral and injectable options. Among these choices, one of them may be more suitable for your needs. The table below lists some of the common alternatives to Jardiance.
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Top 5 Jardiance alternatives
The following are some of the most common alternatives to Jardiance.
1. Farxiga
Farxiga, like Jardiance, is an oral SGLT2 inhibitor. However, unlike Jardiance, 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.
Farxiga, taken orally 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 (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 under-the-skin 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 commonly 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 issued by the FDA. In animal studies, Ozempic has caused medullary 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 take 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 commonly 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 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 causing medullary thyroid cancer in patients at risk.
4. Januvia
Januvia is part of a class of drugs called dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. It is a brand-name oral drug that contains the active ingredient sitagliptin, but no generic is available at this time. Made by Merck Sharp & Dohme, Januvia is taken orally once 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 Januvia side effects include upper respiratory infection, stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, and headache.
5. Metformin
Metformin, a biguanide, is a generic oral drug. 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 it is a low-cost alternative to Jardiance. Metformin is available in immediate-release (dosed twice a day) and extended-release forms (dosed once daily), 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.
Compare Jardiance alternatives |
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| Drug name | Price without insurance | Average SingleCare price | Savings options |
| Jardiance (empagliflozin) | $547.46 for 30, 25 mg tablets of brand-name Jardiance | $273.05 at Meijer for 30, 25 mg tablets of brand-name Jardiance | See latest prices |
| Farxiga (dapagliflozin) | $412.53 for 30, 10 mg tablets of generic dapagliflozin | $19.36 at Walmart for 30, 10 mg tablets of generic dapagliflozin | See latest prices |
| Januvia (sitagliptin) | $553.46 for 30, 100 mg tablets of brand-name Januvia | $327.28 at Meijer for 30, 100 mg tablets of brand-name Januvia | See latest prices |
| Metformin | $13.09 for 60, 500 mg tablets of generic metformin | $6.00 for 60, 500 mg tablets of generic metformin | See latest prices |
| Mounjaro (tirzepatide) | $1,351.56 for 4, 0.5 mL of 5 mg/0.5mL pens of brand-name Mounjaro | $979.40 at Meijer for 4, 0.5 mL of 5 mg/0.5mL pens of brand-name Mounjaro | See latest prices |
| Ozempic (semaglutide) | $1,255.04 for 1, 3 mL of 2 mg/3mL pen | $856.73 at Meijer for 1, 3 mL of 2 mg/3mL pen of brand-name Ozempic | See latest prices |
Natural alternatives to Jardiance
A new diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes mellitus can feel overwhelming, especially the thought of taking daily medications and possibly needing to monitor your blood glucose every day. Fortunately, the diabetes diagnosis may be reversible with lifestyle changes and dietary modifications, especially efforts made to achieve a healthy weight and avoid carbohydrates. 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. Check your hemoglobin A1c every three months to ensure that your blood sugars are in the healthy range. If needed, your healthcare provider can alter your dosage or prescribe additional medication to achieve a healthy hemoglobin A1c.
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 in order to prevent prolonged periods of high blood sugar until the new medication starts working effectively. As always, consult your healthcare provider before changing diabetes treatment in order 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 and most effective treatment for you.
The SingleCare prices in this article are the most accurate at the time of publishing in ZIP code 23666 as of Jun. 11, 2026. Prices vary by pharmacy. Visit our coupon page for updated drug prices at pharmacies near you.
- Jardiance, DailyMed (2025)
- Farxiga, DailyMed (2024)
- Ozempic, DailyMed (2025)
- Mounjaro, DailyMed (2025)
- Januvia, DailyMed (2024)
- Metformin, DailyMed (2020)
- Vitamins, minerals, and supplements, American Diabetes Association
- Pharmacologic Approaches to Glycemic Treatment: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes—2022, American Diabetes Association (2021)
- What can apple cider vinegar really do for your health? American Heart Association (2024)
- Medically accurate: SingleCare’s Medical Review Board analyzes all of our content to confirm it’s in line with current medical advice.
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