Two medicines, side by side
Empagliflozin vs glimepiride
Empagliflozin and glimepiride are both labeled for type 2 diabetes. Drugs@FDA records approvals of empagliflozin since 2014 and of glimepiride since 1995. Pharmacies paid $11.19 per Jardiance 10 mg tablet and $0.0507 per glimepiride 4 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ and one is a brand and one a generic, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, empagliflozin is a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor and glimepiride a sulfonylurea.
Check it at the source: the empagliflozin FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 30, 2026); the glimepiride FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 12, 2025).
Highlights of the empagliflozin record
Empagliflozin (Jardiance) · label of January 30, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsJARDIANCE 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 diabetes mellitus. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- August 1, 2014
- Generic labelers
- none listed
- Pharmacy cost
- $11.19 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 2
Highlights of the glimepiride record
Glimepiride (Amaryl) · label of May 12, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsGlimepiride tablets are indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus [see Clinical Studies (14.1) ]. Limitations of Use Glimepiride tablets should not be used for the treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus or diabetic ketoacidosis, as it would not be effective in these settings. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 30, 1995
- Generic labelers
- 27 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0507 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 19
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Empagliflozin label of January 30, 2026, Glimepiride label of May 12, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do empagliflozin and glimepiride differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, empagliflozin is a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor and glimepiride a sulfonylurea.
How each works, in its label's words: Empagliflozin, “Empagliflozin is an inhibitor of SGLT2, the predominant transporter responsible for reabsorption of glucose from the glomerular filtrate back into the circulation.”; Glimepiride, “Glimepiride primarily lowers blood glucose by stimulating the release of insulin from pancreatic beta cells.”
Generics: empagliflozin since 2022; glimepiride since 2005 (Drugs@FDA).
| Empagliflozin | Glimepiride | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Heart failure, Type 2 diabetes, Chronic kidney disease | Type 2 diabetes |
| Pharmacologic class | Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitor | Sulfonylurea |
| How it works (label) | Empagliflozin is an inhibitor of SGLT2, the predominant transporter responsible for reabsorption of glucose from the glomerular filtrate back into the circulation. | Glimepiride primarily lowers blood glucose by stimulating the release of insulin from pancreatic beta cells. |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | August 1, 2014 | November 30, 1995 |
| First generic approved | August 3, 2022 | October 6, 2005 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | none listed | 27 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $11.19 per tablet (Jardiance 10 mg tablet) | $0.0507 per tablet (Glimepiride 4 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -44% | +4% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 2 | 19 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 66,937 | 38,737 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to empagliflozin
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions