Compare Jardiance vs Invokana
Jardiance and invokana are both oral type 2 diabetes drugs that are used to treat high blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes refers to a chronic condition where your body cannot produce enough amount of insulin or use it properly. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas, which helps glucose enter the body cells. Glucose is a form of sugar that is one of the biggest sources of fuel. Without insulin, glucose cannot enter the cells, which leads to a build up of glucose in the bloodstream. Both medications work by increasing removal of sugar by the kidney. This helps to reduce high blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Controlling high blood glucose is important because it reduces the risk of developing health complications such as kidney problems, nerve damage and loss of limbs.
Both medicines are SGLT 2 inhibitors drugs. That means they both have the same mechanism of action which is to block SGLT 2 a key protein in the process of kidney filtration in draining glucose from blood into urine. Both drugs are taken once every in the morning, with or without meals. Your dosage of these medications depends on your response to treatment and specific condition. You are supposed to take jardiance and invokana regularly so as to achieve maximum benefit. Take these medications at the same time every day. As you take these hypoglycemic drugs, make sure you follow the instructions on the prescription label. In case you have any questions you should ask your doctor. You should not take bigger or smaller dosage of these medications without your doctor’s permission. Your doctor may require to change your dose so that you can achieve the best results out of these medications.
You may experience low blood sugar levels or hypoglycemia as a result of taking invokana.
Symptoms of low blood sugar levels include
- dizziness
- hunger
- blurred vision
- tingling of hands and feet
- shaking,
- sweating
- fast heartbeat
You can easily relieve these symptoms of hypoglycemia by taking fast acting sugar, such as non diet soda, hard candy and honey. However, jardiance is less likely to cause hypoglycemia in patients who use this medication. Jardiance is the brand name of empagliflozin while invokana is the brand name of canagliflozin. The recommended starting dose of jardiance is 10 mg which should be taken orally, once every day in the morning. On the other hand, the recommended starting dose of invokana is 100 mg which should be taken once every day with the first meal.
Doctor’s Recommendation
Jardiance and Invokana may not be safe for everyone. Before starting either medication, talk to your doctor if you have any of these conditions:
For Invokana:
- History of lower limb amputation
- Narrowed or blocked blood vessels in the leg
- Nerve damage in the leg
- History of diabetic foot ulcers
For both Jardiance and Invokana:
- Allergic reaction to the medication or its ingredients
- Pregnant or planning to become pregnant
- Breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed
- Kidney or liver problems
- History of genital or urinary tract infections
- Current or past pancreatic issues
- Type 1 diabetes
- History of diabetic ketoacidosis
- Planning for surgery
Disclaimer: Please note that the contents of this community article are strictly for informational purposes and should not be considered as medical advice. This article, and other community articles, are not written or reviewed for medical validity by Canadian Insulin or its staff. All views and opinions expressed by the contributing authors are not endorsed by Canadian Insulin. Always consult a medical professional for medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment.
