Compare Jardiance vs. Actos

Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.

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Jardiance (empagliflozin)

Prescription only

Actos (pioglitazone)

Prescription only
Lowers blood sugar.

Jardiance (empagliflozin) lowers blood sugar for people with diabetes, but can increase the chance of a yeast infection.

Lowers blood sugar.

Actos (pioglitazone) can improve blood sugar control but is not a top choice since it has a lot of side effects.

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3.1/ 5 average rating with 175 reviewsforActos
Upsides
  • Lowers A1c (average blood sugar over time) levels up to 1%.
  • Can prevent death from heart attack, stroke, or heart failure if you have pre-existing heart disease.
  • Can be easily taken orally as a pill.
  • Can cause weight loss.
  • Not likely to cause hypoglycemia or very low blood sugar.
  • Improves sugar control and lowers A1c levels by around 1%.
  • Easily taken by mouth as a once a day pill.
  • Prevents the harmful effects of high sugar levels on your organs.
  • Rarely causes low blood sugar.
  • Lower the risk of heart attack or stroke.
Downsides
  • More expensive since it's available as brand name only.
  • Can cause dehydration.
  • May take several weeks to lower blood sugar.
  • Can cause weight gain.
  • People with heart failure or history of bladder cancer shouldn't use this medicine.
  • Some people might get fluid accumulation (edema), from minor ankle swelling to fluid in lungs that makes it hard to breathe.
  • Raises the risk of bone fractures, especially for people who already have a risk for fractures.
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Used for
Dosage forms
  • Pill
  • Pill
Price
Lowest price
$529.46
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Lowest price
$12.63
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Reviews
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175 reviews so far
42%
saidit'sworth it
30%
saiditworked well
21%
saidit'sa big hassle

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Side effects
9possible side effects
  • Low blood sugar
    40%
  • Urinary tract infection
    9%
  • Yeast infection in women
    5%
  • Elevated cholesterol levels
    4%
  • Head cold
    3%
  • Increased urination
    3%
  • Yeast infection in men
    3%
  • Joint pain
    2%
  • Nausea
    2%
See more detailed side effects
11possible side effects
  • Low blood sugar
    27%
  • Swelling
    27%
  • Colds and flu
    13%
  • Headache
    9%
  • Heart failure
    8%
  • Sinus infection
    6%
  • Back pain
    6%
  • Pain in arms and legs
    6%
  • Muscle pain
    5%
  • Sore throat
    5%
  • Chest pain
    5%
See more detailed side effects
Risks and risk factors
  • Low blood pressure
    • Over age 65
    • Kidney disease
    • Taking blood pressure medications
  • Worsening kidney function
    • Dehydration
    • Poor baseline kidney function
    • Congestive heart failure
  • Too much acid in the blood
    • Type 1 diabetes
    • Extended fasting
  • Yeast infections and urinary tract infections
See more detailed risks and warnings
  • Heart failure
    • Heart failure
  • Fluid buildup
  • Liver damage
    • Current liver problems
  • Bladder cancer
    • History of bladder cancer
  • Bone fracture
    • Women
  • Low blood sugar
See more detailed risks and warnings
Learn more about Jardiance (empagliflozin)
Learn more about Actos (pioglitazone)