SGLT2 inhibitors are one of the newer classes of medications used to treat type 2 diabetes.
Invokana and Jardiance are two types of SGLT2 inhibitors that have been on the market for around a decade (which makes them very new compared to some of the older diabetes medications!).
Since they’re in the same medication class, how do you know which one might be better for you?
In this article, we’ll compare Invokana vs Jardiance directly so you’re aware of how they stack up against each other.
What is Invokana?
Invokana is the brand name for canagliflozin, a diabetes medication in a class of drugs called sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors.
SGLT2 inhibitors help treat type 2 diabetes by increasing the amount of glucose removed from your body in your urine.
They accomplish this by reducing the amount of glucose reabsorbed in your kidneys, which lowers blood sugar levels without causing low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first approved Invokana in 2013 to help lower blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes (along with diet and exercise).
Invokana also has FDA approvals to:
- Reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events (such as heart attack and stroke) in adults with type 2 diabetes who have known cardiovascular disease.
- Reduce the risk of end-stage kidney disease, worsening of kidney function, cardiovascular death, and hospitalization for heart failure in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and diabetic kidney disease (nephropathy) with a certain amount of protein in the urine.
The typical dosing of Invokana ranges from 100 milligrams to 300 milligrams daily. The dosage will vary depending on your kidney function, blood sugar control, and other factors.
The manufacturer of Invokana is Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation.
What is Jardiance?
Jardiance is one of the brand names for the drug empagliflozin, another SGLT2 inhibitor. Jardiance works similarly to Invokana by reducing the amount of glucose reabsorbed into your kidneys and removing it through your urine.
Like Invokana, Jardiance doesn’t stimulate the release of insulin like some diabetes medications do (such as insulin and sulfonylureas).
Because it doesn’t impact insulin secretion, Jardiance doesn’t come with a risk of low blood sugar.
In fact, a controlled clinical trial found that only 0.4% of participants taking Jardiance developed low blood sugar, which wasn’t considered severe.
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Jardiance to treat type 2 diabetes in 2014, just one year after Invokana.
It was approved again for use to reduce cardiovascular death in people with type 2 diabetes in 2016, and most recently in 2021 to treat patients with heart failure.
Jardiance is an oral medication taken in either 10-milligram or 25-milligram dosages in the morning, with or without food. The manufacturer of Jardiance is Boehringer Ingelheim.
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Invokana vs Jardiance
The below sections directly compare Invokana vs Jardiance in terms of differences, similarities, benefits, side effects and risks, and cost.
Differences
Dose: Invokana’s typical dose is 100-300 milligrams daily, while Jardiance’s dose ranges from 10-25 milligrams daily.
FDA approval: Invokana is approved to reduce the risk of kidney problems in patients with type 2 diabetes, while Jardiance isn’t.
Jardiance is approved to help reduce hospitalization in patients with heart failure; Invokana is approved to reduce heart failure in patients with diabetes and kidney disease.
Side effects: Jardiance isn’t linked with an increased risk of lower limb amputations; this risk is listed in the information for Invokana. Similarly, Jardiance isn’t associated with an increased risk of bone fracture like is listed in the information for Invokana.
Similarities
Type of medication: Invokana and Jardiance are both SGLT2 inhibitors, so they work to treat diabetes in the same way.
Uses: Both Invokana and Jardiance are meant to treat type 2 diabetes, not type 1 diabetes.
Side effects: Because they’re in the same medication class, Invokana and Jardiance have similar side effects and potential risks, especially related to yeast and urinary tract infections.
Benefits
Invokana
- Low risk of developing hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
- Might help reduce the risk of cardiovascular events and kidney disease.
- Once daily dosing in an oral tablet (not an injection).
- May be more effective at lowering blood sugar levels (more on that in the next session).
- May help reduce blood pressure levels.
Jardiance
- Low risk of developing hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
- May help reduce the risk of cardiovascular events and reduce hospitalization among patients with heart failure.
- Once daily dosing in an oral tablet (not an injection).
- May help reduce blood pressure levels.
| Drug | FDA approval | Cost/tablet (max concentration) | Avg. reduction A1c (studies cited) | Avg. weight loss (studies cited) |
| Invokana | Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular events, kidney disease | ~$20 USD per tablet | 0.91%-1.16% | 2.4 kilograms (5.28 pounds) |
| Jardiance | Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular events, heart failure | ~$19 USD per tablet | 0.59%-0.82% | 1.7-1.9 kilograms (3.74-4.18 pounds) |
Which medication is the most effective?
Invokana
According to a study, taking Invokana as monotherapy (the only diabetes treatment) at 100 milligrams and 300 milligrams reduced hemoglobin A1c levels by 0.91% and 1.16%, respectively.
In terms of weight loss, patients without diabetes taking 300 milligrams of Invokana (the highest dose) experienced a mean weight loss of 2.4 kilograms (around five pounds).
Jardiance
According to a meta-analysis of ten randomized control trials, participants taking Jardiance at 25 milligrams daily (the highest dose) experienced an average of 0.66% reduction in A1c.
Another study cited a range in A1c reduction between 0.59-0.82% from taking Jardiance.
Jardiance might also help you lose weight, which can further help lower blood sugar levels.
According to a review of studies, participants taking Jardiance lost a “significant” amount of weight compared to the placebo; the amount of weight loss ranged from 1.7-1.9 kilograms (3.74-4.18 pounds).
Compared directly
A study compared Invokana vs Jardiance (along with Farxiga, another SGLT2 inhibitor) and concluded that both medications “are effective in improving glycaemic control, with added benefits of some reductions in BP and weight.”
Bottom line: Invokana appears to be more effective in terms of lowering blood sugar and promoting weight loss compared to Jardiance. The difference in weight loss is less obvious, though, with little difference between the studies cited.
| Brand name | Drug name | Medication class | Dosing | Linked with increased risk of bone fracture and lower limb amputation |
| Invokana | Canagliflozin | SGLT2 inhibitor | 100-300 milligrams daily | Yes |
| Jardiance | Empagliflozin | SGLT2 inhibitor | 10-25 milligrams daily | No |
Side effects and risks
Invokana side effects
The most common side effects of Invokana are:
- Female genital mycotic infections (yeast infections) from yeast feeding off the extra sugar in your urine to grow.
- Urinary tract infections (bacteria also feed off the excess sugar which can cause an increase in UTIs.
- Increased urination (your body’s way of eliminating the excess glucose in your urine).
More rarely, some of the serious risks and side effects of taking Invokana can include:
- Lower limb amputations: according to a study cited in the warnings provided by Invokana’s manufacturer, Invokana was associated with an increased risk of lower limb amputation compared to a placebo. (The most common cause of amputations among people with diabetes is chronic high blood sugar.)
- Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA): According to Invokana’s manufacturer, in a study where patients with type 1 diabetes took Invokana, the rate of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) was increased compared to the placebo. However, Invokana isn’t approved to treat type 1 diabetes, so this risk likely doesn’t apply to most people taking it.
- Volume depletion: Taking Invokana might reduce the liquid portion of your blood, which can cause low blood pressure. It’s possible to develop an acute kidney injury from volume depletion. Your risk of volume depletion from Invokana is higher if you have kidney problems or are taking loop diuretics, a type of blood pressure medication.
- Kidney infections: untreated urinary tract infections can lead to more severe kidney and bladder problems.
- Low blood sugar: Taking Invokana with medications like insulin or sulfonylureas can cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Invokana doesn’t come with a big risk of low blood sugar when taken on its own, though.
- Necrotizing fasciitis of the perineum (Fournier’s Gangrene): while rare, you could develop a serious infection of the skin of your perineum (area between your genitals and rectum) while taking Invokana.
- Bone fracture: Increased risk of bone fracture has been observed in patients taking Invokana.
- Yeast infections in males.
- Hypersensitivity to Invokana or its ingredients.
Jardiance side effects
Because it’s in the same class of medications, Jardiance comes with similar side effects as Invokana.
Some of the potential side effects of Jardiance include:
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs) which may lead to kidney infections.
- Dehydration/volume depletion, which may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, and weakness.
- Yeast infections (also called genital mycotic infections) in males and females.
- Low blood sugar, especially if you’re taking other diabetes medications.
- Nausea.
- Upper respiratory tract infections.
- Increased urination.
- Increased thirst due to dehydration.
- Low blood pressure.
- Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
- Necrotizing fasciitis, a severe bacterial infection of your perineum.
- Hypersensitivity to Jardiance or its ingredients.
Which medication is cheaper?
According to GoodRx, here’s how Invokana vs Jardiance compare in terms of out-of-pocket cost (not applying any insurance benefits).
Invokana: A 30-day supply of 300-milligram tablets (the highest concentration): around $620 USD (approx. $20 per pill)
Jardiance: A 30-day supply of 25-milligram tablets (the highest concentration): Jardiance costs around $580 USD (approx. $19 per pill)
Can you take Invokana and Jardiance together?
Invokana and Jardiance aren’t meant to be taken together. Taking Invokana and Jardiance together could result in more serious side effects.
If you want to switch from one medication to the other, your healthcare provider can offer guidance on how to taper off one of the medications and switch to the other.
Invokana and Jardiance can be taken with other diabetes medications, such as metformin. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you need to discontinue any of your medications once starting Invokana or Jardiance.
Conclusion
Invokana and Jardiance are both SGLT2 inhibitors. SGLT2 inhibitors are a class of medication used to treat type 2 diabetes.
Invokana and Jardiance have similar side effects and risks, with the exception that Invokana is linked with an increased risk of bone fracture and lower limb amputations.
The price for Invokana vs Jardiance is similar, with a difference of around $1 per tablet (out of pocket) between them (Invokana is slightly more expensive).
Invokana appears to be more effective than Jardance in terms of lowering blood sugar and promoting weight loss when reviewing several studies.
The best way to determine which medication might be right for you is to discuss it with your healthcare provider.
By reviewing your health history, discussing potential risks and benefits, and estimating the actual cost to you, you can better make an informed decision.
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