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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.

Drug Class
dapagliflozin SGLT2 Inhibitor
empagliflozin SGLT2 Inhibitor
Type
dapagliflozin Prescription
empagliflozin Prescription
Summary
dapagliflozin

Dapagliflozin (Farxiga) helps lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. It also helps adults with heart failure or chronic kidney disease.

empagliflozin

No summary available.

What It Treats
dapagliflozin

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.

empagliflozin

Information not available.

How It Works
dapagliflozin

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

Information not available.

Common Side Effects
dapagliflozin
  • Yeast infections of the vagina
  • Common cold
  • Urinary tract infections
empagliflozin
  • Urinary tract infection
  • Yeast infection (in women)
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
FAERS Reports
dapagliflozin
  • Death 7,017
  • Tiredness 2,250
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 2,218
  • Feeling lightheaded 2,096
  • Loose stools 2,074
empagliflozin
  • Diabetic ketoacidosis 3,773
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 3,212
  • High blood sugar 3,043
  • Diarrhea 2,806
  • Weight loss 2,749
Serious Warnings
dapagliflozin

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.

empagliflozin

No specific warnings noted.

Pregnancy
dapagliflozin

This medicine may harm your unborn baby, especially during the second and third trimesters. It is not recommended while breastfeeding.

empagliflozin

No pregnancy information available.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

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.