Treatment options for managing diabetes are plenty. Besides conventional insulin therapies, there are sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors like Jardiance and Invokana that don’t rely on insulin to reduce your blood sugar levels. They work by helping the kidneys remove excess glucose and salt by flushing them out through urine. Their benefits extend beyond regulating blood sugar levels to supporting heart and kidney health. This article on Jardiance vs. Invokana explores everything you need to know about these SGLT2 inhibitors and where they fit in your diabetes treatment regimen.
What Are Jardiance and Invokana?
Jardiance contains the active ingredient empagliflozin. It’s often prescribed to treat people with Type 2 diabetes and reduce deaths in those with heart failure or Type 2 diabetes with heart-related comorbidities. Jardiance comes in a tablet form and is taken once daily.
Invokana contains canagliflozin and comes in tablet form as well. It’s indicated for adults and children at least 10 years old with Type 2 diabetes. Doctors also recommend it to lower the risk of heart and kidney complications in those with diabetes and co-existing conditions.
These Type 2 diabetes medications have been proven to be both effective at lowering blood sugar levels and promoting heart and kidney health.
People often compare Jardiance vs. Invokana for diabetes to determine which is more effective. When choosing a medication, consider factors like side effects and cost.
Jardiance vs. Invokana Comparison
| Feature | Jardiance | Invokana |
|---|---|---|
| Generic name | Empagliflozin | Canagliflozin |
| Drug class | SGLT2 inhibitor | SGLT2 inhibitor |
| Primary use | Type 2 diabetes, heart failure (HFrEF), and risk reduction of cardiovascular death | Type 2 diabetes, reduces the risk of major cardiovascular events, diabetic kidney disease |
| Dosage forms | Oral tablet: 10 mg, 25 mg | Oral tablet: 100 mg, 300 mg |
| Dosing frequency | Once daily | Once daily |
| Weight loss benefits | May cause modest weight loss | Same |
| Common side effects | Genital infections, urinary tract infections (UTIs), increased urination | Genital infections, UTIs, dehydration, low blood pressure |
| Insurance coverage | Widely covered, but varies | Widely covered, but varies |
Jardiance and Invokana belong to a class of drugs known as SGLT2 inhibitors. They block SGLT2, a protein in the kidneys responsible for pulling sugar and salt from your urine back into the bloodstream. When this protein’s activities are obstructed, more glucose and sodium are flushed out through urine.
Lower concentrations of sugar and salt in the blood can reduce fluid buildup, normalize blood pressure, and lighten the load on the heart and kidneys of people at risk of severe health complications.
Dosing and Dosage Form
Jardiance and Invokana are available in tablet form. Below is a table comparing their standard dosing schedule.
| Dose | Jardiance | Invokana |
| Starting dose | 10 mg once daily in the morning, with or without food | 100 mg once daily, before the first meal of the day, for adults and children with Type 2 diabetes |
| Maximum dose | 25 mg once daily if patients can tolerate the side effects | 300 mg once daily if additional blood sugar control is required |
| Renal impairment considerations | Not recommended if eGFR is less than 30 mL/min/1.73m² | Not recommended if eGFR is less than 30 mL/min/1.73m² |
| Indications for heart failure | Yes, with or without diabetes | Yes, with Type 2 diabetes |
Jardiance is available in strengths of 10 mg and 25 mg. Doctors prescribe 10 mg as a starting dose, taken in the morning with or without food, and may increase it to 25 mg if patients need stronger blood sugar control, but only if they can tolerate the side effects well.
Invokana is available in two doses: 100 mg and 300 mg. Doctors may increase the dose from 100 mg to 300 mg, depending on the patient’s need, but only under the condition that they can manage the side effects.
Both Jardiance and Invokana aren’t recommended for use in people with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of less than 30 mL/min/1.73 m², indicating moderate to severe loss of kidney function. A normal eGFR is about 100 mL/min/1.73 m².
Your doctor may adjust the dose and treatment plan whenever necessary to suit your health goals.
Side Effects
What are the downsides of Jardiance and Invokana? Since both are SGLT2 inhibitors, they share many common and serious side effects.
Common side effects include:
-
- Urinary tract infections
- Increased urination
- Genital mycotic infections
- Dehydration
- Electrolyte imbalances
- Low blood pressure
- Hypoglycemia, mainly when used with insulin or sulfonylurea
- Nausea
Clinical trials show these usual side effects affect at least 5% of users.
Some rare yet serious risks include:
-
- Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
- Fournier’s gangrene
- Severe UTI
- Hypotension or severe low blood pressure
- Acute kidney injury
If you notice persistent or worsening symptoms, consult your doctor about them so they can adjust your treatment plan.
Which One Works Better for Diabetes?
There’s no study directly comparing Jardiance with Invokana in lowering HbA1c or average blood sugar levels. However, separate clinical trials have proven that both are effective in managing diabetes.
In one clinical trial, 986 patients with Type 2 diabetes received Jardiance 10 mg or 25 mg or a placebo. After 24 weeks of treatment, patients who took Jardiance 10 mg and 25 mg reduced HbA1c by 0.7% and 0.8%, respectively. In comparison, the change in HbA1c with placebo was only 0.1%, which was clinically insignificant.
Researchers conducted a similar study comparing Invokana against a placebo, in which 584 people with Type 2 diabetes were randomized to receive Invokana 100 mg, 300 mg, or a placebo.
After 26 weeks, patients who took Invokana 100 mg and 300 mg reduced their HbA1c levels by 0.77% and 1.03%, respectively. Those on placebo saw a minimal change of 0.14% in their HbA1c.
Is Jardiance better than Invokana for diabetes? Both drugs are effective at preventing spikes in sugar levels, but the best choice depends on your health needs. This study suggests Invokana may be slightly better at lowering HbA1c, but if you have a high risk for heart disease, Jardiance may be a better treatment option.
Which Promotes More Weight Loss?
No known head-to-head studies have compared Invokana vs. Jardiance for weight loss, but evidence suggests the highest dose of Invokana may lead to slightly more weight reduction.
Below are the findings in the same studies above that used Jardiance and Invokana as monotherapy to treat patients with Type 2 diabetes.
After 24 weeks of Jardiance treatment:
-
- People who received Jardiance 10 mg lost 2.8% of their body weight.
- Those who received Jardiance 25 mg lost 3.2% of their body weight.
- Those who received a placebo lost 0.4% of their body weight.
Patients had a mean baseline weight of 78 kg.
After 26 weeks of Invokana treatment:
-
- People who received 100 mg lost 2.8% of their body weight.
- Those on 300 mg lost 3.9% of their body weight.
- Those on the placebo lost 0.6% of their body weight.
Patients had a mean baseline weight that ranged from 85 kg to 87.5 kg.
If your main goal is weight loss and your options were limited to these two, Invokana may be a more suitable option.
Which Is More Affordable?
Prices for both medications can vary depending on location, insurance coverage, and eligibility for savings programs.
The average retail cost of Jardiance in the U.S. is $737, while Invokana costs $784. These prices can be steep, especially for those paying out of pocket.
Purchasing Jardiance or Invokana in Canada is generally more affordable because brand-name medications are typically priced reasonably compared to local pharmacies. You can buy 30 tablets of Jardiance 10 mg for only $139 and 30 tablets of Invokana for $164.99.
If you’re uninsured or your insurance doesn’t cover either medication, consider ordering your prescriptions from Buy Canadian Insulin. You can do it in four easy steps. After completing the order, we ship it to your doorstep in 7-10 business days.
Is there a generic for Invokana or Jardiance? These SGLT2 inhibitors don’t have generic forms. If medication prices are a concern, purchasing from affordable online pharmacies is a more financially sustainable choice for managing diabetes in the long term.
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Drug Interactions and Warnings
Jardiance and Invokana may interact and interfere with the following drugs and laboratory tests:
-
- Diuretics: Using these with Jardiance or Invokana may increase the risk of dehydration.
- Insulin or insulin secretagogues: These drugs raise the risk of hypoglycemia when combined with Jardiance or Invokana.
- Urine glucose test: Since SGLT2 inhibitors get rid of excess glucose through urine, taking Jardiance or Invokana may lead to a positive urine glucose test.
- 1,5-anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG) assay: Using Jardiance or Invokana may change the results in a short-term blood sugar test.
Below are unique interactions that may occur when Invokana is used with the following drugs:
-
- UGT enzyme inducers: Some examples are rifampin, phenytoin, phenobarbital, and ritonavir. These medications increase the activity of UGT enzymes, which may reduce the effectiveness of Invokana.
- Digoxin: This drug helps treat heart failure. When used with Invokana, it raises digoxin levels, which can lead to toxicity and symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and arrhythmias.
- Lithium: Lithium helps treat psychiatric illnesses. Using Invokana may lower serum lithium levels, potentially leading to mood-related side effects.
Both Jardiance and Invokana aren’t recommended for use in the following patients:
-
- Pregnant and lactating women due to the potential fetal risks
- Older adults due to increased risk of dehydration and impaired kidney function
- People with kidney conditions due to the elevated risk of kidney damage
Jardiance may be used in patients with liver conditions, but doctors must closely monitor their health. Meanwhile, the effects of Invokana have not been studied in those with severe liver impairment, so it’s often not recommended for use.
Alternatives to Jardiance and Invokana
If Jardiance or Invokana are unavailable, your doctor may recommend other SGLT2 inhibitors or alternatives that include:
People often compare Jardiance vs Invokana vs Farxiga, but each medication has its pros and cons. If you need a Jardiance or Invokana alternative, your doctor will recommend the most suitable option based on your overall health condition.
Jardiance vs. Invokana: Choose the Right Medication for You
Jardiance and Invokana are both SGLT2 inhibitors approved for treating Type 2 diabetes. They work by eliminating sugar and salt from your body through urine, lowering glucose concentrations in the bloodstream.
While effective for managing diabetes, using them causes common and serious side effects. If you have diabetes and other co-existing conditions, such as kidney injury or liver damage, work with your healthcare provider to monitor your safety throughout treatment. Jardiance and Invokana may interact with other medications, so inform your doctor about all the pills or injections you’re taking.
Your doctor may recommend Invokana or Jardiance alternatives if they’re not available or your insurance doesn’t cover them. Common options include Farxiga, metformin, and Steglatro. If you want to make changes to your diabetes treatment plan, always consult your doctor for sound health advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Original Publish Date: 10/17/2021 – Updated 7/11/2025
