Canagliflozin vs. Empagliflozin
Compare Canagliflozin and Empagliflozin: mechanism of action, indications, side effects, cost, and which may be right for you.
Drug A
Canagliflozin
Invokana
SGLT2 Inhibitors (Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors)
RxDrug B
Empagliflozin
Jardiance
SGLT2 Inhibitors (Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors)
RxQuick Comparison
| Category | Canagliflozin | Empagliflozin |
|---|---|---|
| Drug Class | SGLT2 Inhibitors (Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors) | SGLT2 Inhibitors (Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors) |
| Rx Status | Rx | Rx |
| Generic Available | No | No |
| Typical Cost | $500–$750/month | $550–$700/month |
Canagliflozin Overview
Invokana (canagliflozin) is a medication for adults and children aged 10 and older with type 2 diabetes. It helps lower blood sugar by causing the kidneys to remove more sugar from the body through urine. For adults with type 2 diabetes and existing heart or kidney disease, Invokana also helps reduce the risk of serious heart problems, hospitalization for heart failure, and progression of kidney d...
Full Canagliflozin guide →Empagliflozin Overview
Empagliflozin (Jardiance) is a medication that helps your kidneys remove extra sugar from your body through urine. It is prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes by lowering blood sugar, and also helps reduce the risk of heart-related problems and hospitalizations in adults with heart failure or chronic kidney disease.
Full Empagliflozin guide →How Each Drug Works
Canagliflozin
Action SGLT2, expressed in the proximal renal tubules, is responsible for the majority of the reabsorption of filtered glucose from the tubular lumen. Canagliflozin is an inhibitor of SGLT2. By inhibiting SGLT2, canagliflozin reduces reabsorption of filtered glucose and lowers the renal threshold for glucose (RT G ), and thereby increases urinary glucose excretion (UGE). Canagliflozin increases the delivery of sodium to the distal tubule by blocking SGLT2-dependent glucose and …
Empagliflozin
Empagliflozin is an inhibitor of SGLT2, the predominant transporter responsible for reabsorption of glucose from the glomerular filtrate back into the circulation. By inhibiting SGLT2, empagliflozin reduces renal reabsorption of filtered glucose and lowers the renal threshold for glucose, and thereby increases urinary glucose excretion. Empagliflozin also reduces sodium reabsorption and increases the delivery of sodium to the distal tubule. This may influence several phy…
Approved Uses (Indications)
Canagliflozin
1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE INVOKANA (canagliflozin) is indicated: 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. to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction and nonfatal stroke) in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and established cardiovascular disease (CVD). to reduce the risk of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), doubling of serum creatinine, cardiovascular (CV) death, and hospitalization for heart failure in adults with ty…
Empagliflozin
1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE JARDIANCE 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 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 diabete…
Side Effects
Canagliflozin
Empagliflozin
Cost Comparison
Canagliflozin
$500–$750/month
As a brand-name drug without a generic, Invokana can be expensive. Patients may find savings through manufacturer coupons, patient assistance programs, or discount cards like GoodRx.
Empagliflozin
$550–$700/month
As a brand-name medication, Empagliflozin can be very expensive. Look for manufacturer coupons or patient assistance programs to significantly reduce the cost.
Drug Interaction: Moderate
Empagliflozin and canagliflozin are both SGLT2 inhibitors. Concomitant use of these agents results in therapeutic duplication, leading to an increased risk of SGLT2 inhibitor-related adverse effects without providing additional glycemic control benefits. This combination is generally not recommended due to increased risk of adverse effects.
Mechanism: Both empagliflozin and canagliflozin inhibit the sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) in the renal tubules, reducing glucose reabsorption and increasing urinary glucose excretion. Using both agents simultaneously leads to an additive pharmacological effect.
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Medical Disclaimer
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