New Delhi, April 30, 2019: Living with diabetes is not easy. Thankfully, treatments exist, but the sheer number of options can be dizzying. Hopefully, this article can help you make an informed decision in regard to choosing JARDIANCE® or INVOKANA® for your diabetes treatment. However, please note that at the end of the day, you should defer to your physician’s advice. Each person’s body is different, and two people can respond very differently to the same medication.
JARDIANCE® and INVOKANA®: The similarities
JARDIANCE® and INVOKANA® are both oral medications used to treat type 2 diabetes. They belong to the same class of drugs: SGLT2 inhibitors. Put simply, both drugs lower blood glucose levels by excreting them from urine. Neither drug is suitable for people with type 1 diabetes, nor are these medications suitable for people who also have severe kidney disease or are on dialysis.
For those who can take either medication, they typically find that these medications ease weight loss. However, they may also experience some negative side effects shared by the two medications, such as:
- Symptoms of dehydration
- Ketoacidosis
- Little to no urination
- Serious infection of the penis or vagina
For both medications, side effects are more likely to happen among older adults.
Drugs that may interact with both JARDIANCE® and INVOKANA® include insulin, other oral diabetes medications, and diuretics (also known as water pills).
JARDIANCE® and INVOKANA®: The differences
Although they belong to the same class of drugs, JARDIANCE® and INVOKANA® are two different things. The generic name of JARDIANCE® is empagliflozin, and the generic name of INVOKANA® is canagliflozin.
INVOKANA® can elevate your risk of lower leg amputation. This risk is higher for people who have had amputations, a foot ulcer, circulation issues, nerve damage, or heart disease. If you’ve experienced any of the above, or are concerned about your risk, bring this up the next time you see your doctor.
On the other hand, JARDIANCE® gets a point from the FDA by being the only SGLT2 so far to be approved to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death. In the same paper that cites this data point, the American College of Cardiology calls JARDIANCE® “currently [as of November 2018] the preferred agent based on the available evidence and overall benefit-risk balance.” However, INVOKANA® is the only SGLT2 inhibitor to be approved by Health Canada to reduce major adverse cardiovascular events as of October 2018.
In other words, if you have a history of cardiovascular issues, you should inform your doctor.
Looking for cheaper JARDIANCE® or INVOKANA®?
Diabetes is a chronic illness that sometimes requires long-term medications. If you or a loved one is struggling to afford these medications, try using a Canadian pharmacy referral service like Rx Connected to buy empagliflozin and canagliflozin. Rx Connected can connect you to international and Canadian pharmacies that have met a strict approval process. Some countries have stricter pharmaceutical price regulation rules than in the USA, allowing them to offer significantly cheaper prices for consumers.
Choosing JARDIANCE® or INVOKANA®
It’s worth mentioning again: everyone reacts differently to medicine. Your most qualified advisor is your doctor, so make sure you go over the pros and cons listed here with them. If you and your doctor are still on the fence, hopefully, the information provided here will help you make an informed decision. If your doctor has already made a decision, we hope you can now better understand why your doctor has chosen to prescribe your medication to you.
No matter which medication you choose, it will not be the only thing that treats your diabetes. Physical exercise and a healthy diet are essential to fighting diabetes.
Corporate Comm India(CCI Newswire)
