empagliflozin vs metformin

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Side-by-side comparison of empagliflozin and metformin. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

moderate Known Drug Interaction

Drugs that Reduce Metformin Clearance Clinical Impact Concomitant use of drugs that interfere with common renal tubular transport systems involved in the renal elimination of metformin (e.g., organic cationic transporter-2 [OCT2] / multidrug and toxin extrusion [MATE] inhibitors such as ranolazine, vandetanib, dolutegravir, and cimetidine) could increase systemic exposure to metformin and may increase the risk for lactic acidosis [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Alcohol Clinical Impact Alcohol is known to potentiate the effect of metformin on lactate metabolism. ( 7 ) Drugs that...

Drug Class
empagliflozin SGLT2 Inhibitor
metformin Biguanide
Type
empagliflozin Prescription
metformin Prescription
Summary
empagliflozin

No summary available.

metformin

No summary available.

What It Treats
empagliflozin

Information not available.

metformin

Information not available.

How It Works
empagliflozin

Information not available.

metformin

Information not available.

Common Side Effects
empagliflozin
  • Urinary tract infection
  • Yeast infection (in women)
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
metformin
  • Diarrhea
  • Upper respiratory tract infection (like a cold)
  • Headache
FAERS Reports
empagliflozin
  • Diabetic Ketoacidosis 3,773
  • Nausea 3,212
  • Blood Glucose Increased 3,043
  • Diarrhoea 2,806
  • Weight Decreased 2,749
metformin
  • Nausea 21,946
  • Diarrhoea 21,884
  • Blood Glucose Increased 18,328
  • Fatigue 17,252
  • Acute Kidney Injury 16,440
Serious Warnings
empagliflozin

No specific warnings noted.

metformin

No specific warnings noted.

Pregnancy
empagliflozin

No pregnancy information available.

metformin

No pregnancy information available.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This empagliflozin vs metformin Comparison

empagliflozin is classified in the SGLT2 Inhibitor drug class, while metformin sits within the Biguanide class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. 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, empagliflozin has 15,583 submissions while metformin has 95,850. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known moderate interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to using these medicines together can increase the risk of a dangerous buildup of lactic acid in the blood. this risk is higher when other factors, such as alcohol, change how the body handles metformin.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for empagliflozin or metformin.

Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.