dapagliflozin vs empagliflozin
Side-by-side comparison of dapagliflozin and empagliflozin Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Farxiga
Jardiance
Dapagliflozin (Farxiga) helps lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. It also helps adults with heart failure or chronic kidney disease.
Synjardy is a combination of two medicines, empagliflozin and metformin. It helps lower blood sugar in adults and children 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes, along with diet and exercise.
This medicine can help adults with chronic kidney disease by reducing the risk of kidney problems, heart problems, and needing to go to the hospital for heart failure. It can also help adults with heart failure by reducing the risk of heart problems and needing urgent care for heart failure. For adults with type 2 diabetes, it can help lower the risk of needing to go to the hospital for heart failure.
Synjardy is used to improve blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes. It is for adults and children aged 10 years and older. Empagliflozin, one of the medicines in Synjardy, can also help reduce the risk of cardiovascular death in adults with heart disease. It can also lower the risk of heart failure and kidney problems in some adults.
Dapagliflozin is a type of medicine called an SGLT2 inhibitor. It works in the kidneys to remove extra sugar from your body through your urine. This helps to lower your blood sugar levels.
Empagliflozin helps your kidneys remove sugar from your blood through urine. Metformin lowers the amount of sugar your liver makes and helps your body use insulin better. Together, they help lower your blood sugar levels.
- • Yeast infections of the vagina
- • Common cold
- • Urinary tract infections
- • Urinary tract infection
- • Yeast infection (in women)
- • Diarrhea
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- Death 7,017
- Tiredness 2,250
- Feeling sick to your stomach 2,218
- Feeling lightheaded 2,096
- Loose stools 2,074
- Diabetic ketoacidosis 3,773
- Feeling sick to your stomach 3,212
- High blood sugar 3,043
- Diarrhea 2,806
- Weight loss 2,749
Dapagliflozin can cause a serious condition called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), especially if you have type 1 diabetes. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and trouble breathing. If you have these symptoms, stop taking this medicine and get medical help right away. This medicine can also cause serious infections in the area between your genitals and anus. Get medical help right away if you have pain, tenderness, redness, or swelling in this area, along with a fever or feeling unwell.
Metformin, one of the drugs in Synjardy, can cause a serious side effect called lactic acidosis. This is a buildup of lactic acid in your blood. Get medical help right away if you have symptoms like weakness, muscle pain, trouble breathing, or stomach pain. Some people should not take Synjardy because of the risk of lactic acidosis. These include people with kidney problems, liver problems, or who drink a lot of alcohol.
This medicine may harm your unborn baby, especially during the second and third trimesters. It is not recommended while breastfeeding.
Synjardy may harm your unborn baby, especially during the second and third trimesters. It is not recommended to use Synjardy while breastfeeding. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
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How to Read This dapagliflozin vs empagliflozin Comparison
dapagliflozin is classified in the SGLT2 Inhibitor drug class, while empagliflozin sits within the SGLT2 Inhibitor class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, dapagliflozin has 15,655 submissions while empagliflozin has 15,583. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between dapagliflozin and empagliflozin — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.