Farxiga vs Jardiance are two medications that people often compare. They are used to treat Type 2 diabetes, heart failure and chronic kidney disease. Both medications work in a way. They help the body get rid of glucose through urine. This can help lower blood sugar levels. Lead to some weight loss.
At BodEvolve Bariatric Surgery Center in Texas, Dr. Frenzel and Dr. Holt talk to patients about these medications. They want patients to know that for people who’re very overweight and have Type 2 diabetes choosing between Farxiga and Jardiance might not be the best decision. Bariatric surgery can actually get rid of Type 2 diabetes in 80-90% of patients who qualify. This means they would not need to take either medication.
Farxiga vs Jardiance at a Glance
Lets look at Farxiga and Jardiance:
| Feature | Farxiga (dapagliflozin) | Jardiance (empagliflozin) |
|---|---|---|
| Drug class | SGLT2 inhibitor | SGLT2 inhibitor |
| Manufacturer | AstraZeneca | Boehringer Ingelheim & Eli Lilly |
| FDA approval year | 2014 | 2014 |
| Frequency | Once daily | Once daily |
| Standard doses | 5 mg, 10 mg | 10 mg, 25 mg |
| Cash price (30-day) | $550–650 | $575–685 |
| FDA-approved for Type 2 diabetes | Yes | Yes |
| FDA-approved for heart failure | Yes (HFrEF + HFpEF) | Yes (HFrEF + HFpEF) |
| FDA-approved for chronic kidney disease | Yes | Yes |
| Average weight loss (6 months) | 4–6 lbs | 5–7 lbs |
| Average A1C reduction | 0.5–0.7% | 0.6–0.8% |
| Cardiovascular benefit (CV death reduction) | 17% (DAPA-HF trial) | 14% (EMPA-REG trial) |
The main thing to know is that Farxiga and Jardiance are very similar. The differences between them are small. Some patients might find that one works better for them than the other. For many patients the choice between them is not the most important decision. Whats more important is whether these medications are the long-term choice.
For patients with a BMI of 35 or higher and Type 2 diabetes bariatric surgery can be an option. It can get rid of Type 2 diabetes. Help with weight loss. This is something that Farxiga and Jardiance cannot do.
How Are Farxiga and Jardiance Similar?
- They work by blocking the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) protein in the kidneys.
- Both medications are used to treat Type 2 diabetes, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease.
- Their benefits include lowering blood sugar levels, supporting modest weight loss, and reducing the risk of cardiovascular death.
- Common side effects include urinary tract infections, genital yeast infections, dehydration, and an increased risk of bone fractures.
- They are taken once daily, with or without food.
- They cost around the same: $550-685 for a 30-day supply.
Farxiga vs Jardiance Cost
The cost of Farxiga and Jardiance is something to consider.
Cash price comparison (30-day supply, 2026):
| Medication | Cash Price (Monthly) | Annual Cost | 5-Year Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farxiga 10 mg | $550–650 | $6,600–7,800 | $33,000–39,000 |
| Jardiance 25 mg | $575–685 | $6,900–8,220 | $34,500–41,100 |
| Difference | $25–35/month | $300–420/year | $1,500–2,100 over 5 years |
For patients with heart failure, Farxiga and Jardiance can be helpful.
- Both medications are approved for the treatment of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).
- They can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and heart failure-related hospitalization.
- The choice between the two medications often depends on factors such as insurance coverage, out-of-pocket cost, physician recommendation, and patient preference.
Compared with bariatric surgery cost, which can be done once in a patient’s lifetime at an out-of-pocket cost of $12,000-$30,000 and is covered completely by insurance in case of diabetic patients.
When a patient has a BMI of 35 or higher with Type 2 diabetes, the actual financial comparison is not about Farxiga versus Jardiance but between medication for life and one time surgery solution, more details with full Farxiga cost guide .
Farxiga vs Jardiance for Kidneys (Kidney Disease)
Questions like Farxiga vs Jardiance for kidneys and jardiance vs farxiga for kidney disease are based on the fact that both drugs can be used for the treatment of chronic kidney diseases.
Indications for CKD:
Both drugs are FDA-approved to treat chronic kidney disease in patients who are at risk of developing the disease, whether or not they have Type 2 diabetes.
- Both medications are used to treat chronic kidney disease and help protect kidney function.
- They can help reduce the risk of kidney disease progression, worsening kidney function, and kidney-related complications.
- The choice between the two medications often depends on factors such as insurance coverage, cost, physician recommendation, and patient preference.
For people with a body mass index of 30 or higher who want to lose a lot of weight the best type of weight loss surgery can lead to 10 to 25 times weight loss than either Farxiga or Jardiance. The complete Farxiga for weight loss guide describes the process and restrictions in full detail.
When Bariatric Surgery Eliminates the Farxiga vs Jardiance Question Entirely
And this is the part competitors are unlikely to include – but it should be discussed honestly as well because it is an actual scenario.
Patient profile that makes the SGLT2 comparison irrelevant due to bariatric surgery:
- Body Mass Index above 35 (30+ with diabetes or co-morbidity)
- Type 2 diabetes treated by using Farxiga, Jardiance, or any other SGLT2 inhibitor
- Often takes metformin or insulin or other medications for their disease
- Pays out of pocket for their medications
- Their disease is not cured by years of treatment
- Scared of complications associated with diabetes
As you can see, bariatric surgery cures diabetes for 80-90% of the above patient group. They no longer take Farxiga, Jardiance, metformin or other diabetes drugs. So, SGLT2 choice does not make sense here.
Here’s why bariatric surgery solves diabetes problem (does not manage it like drugs):
- A number of metabolic changes due to hormonal alterations occurring shortly after surgery
- Alterations in bile acids metabolism associated with improved glucose utilization
- Microbiota alterations resulting in decreased inflammation markers
- Substantial weight loss eliminating obesity-induced insulin resistance
- Improvement of pancreas function thanks to calorie deprivation
- Prevention of glucose spikes by reduced food consumption
Together, these outcomes create diabetes remission among most eligible patients within weeks or months following surgery, even before considerable weight loss has taken place.
The surgeries that are the most efficient for achieving diabetes remission:
- Gastric bypass surgery – diabetes remission rate: 80-90%
- Duodenal switch – diabetes remission rate: 85-95%
- SADI surgery – diabetes remission rate: 80-90%
- Gastric sleeve surgery – diabetes remission rate: 60-70%
In patients with extreme cases of diabetes or high BMIs, the most powerful surgical interventions such as gastric bypass, duodenal switch, and SADI can yield better results in diabetes remission than the less potent gastric sleeve.
The cumulative cost comparison:
| Treatment Path | 10-Year Cost (Self-Pay) | Diabetes Status at 10 Years |
|---|---|---|
| Farxiga only | $66,000–78,000 | Managed but persistent |
| Jardiance only | $69,000–82,200 | Managed but persistent |
| Multiple diabetes medications | $80,000–150,000+ | Managed but progressive |
| Bariatric surgery | $12,000–25,000 | Resolved in 80–90% of cases |
Why Compare Farxiga vs Jardiance at All When Bariatric Surgery Resolves Both Needs?
The real question patients ought to be asking is one their primary doctor isn’t necessarily considering: if bariatric surgery cures Type 2 diabetes in 80-90% of eligible cases, why am I choosing between SGLT2 inhibitors when there’s an opportunity for a cure?
Why most patients don’t even consider bariatric surgery before starting with medication:
- A lack of education — most primary care physicians aren’t informing their patients that bariatric surgery is a viable first-line treatment for diabetes patients with a BMI of 35+
- Misperception about the process of bariatric surgery — patients think they’ll need to endure a much more complicated surgical procedure than is actually the case today
- Not knowing bariatric surgery is generally covered by insurance companies — many patients don’t know they can get bariatric surgery covered by their insurance
- A cultural approach to diabetes — diabetes patients see diabetes as a manageable disease rather than something that can be cured
Starting patients off on medication immediately due to cultural protocol
The real truth bariatric surgeons face during consultations:
Patients come to BodEvolve after 5-10 years of medical treatment, having paid up to $100,000 for diabetes medications and still having an advancing rather than stable disease state. Only then do they realize that surgery could have been used all along.
The patient who would most benefit from reading this article:
- Currently weighing options between Farxiga vs Jardiance for T2D treatment
- BMI ≥ 35 (or ≥ 30 if they have additional conditions)
- Tired of paying huge amounts of money for medication and suffering its side effects
- Conscious of the connection between their obesity and diabetes problem
- Considering non-medicinal ways to manage diabetes symptoms
For such patients, the best choice may not be between Farxiga and Jardiance but between medications and surgical interventions. Full analysis must be done through consultation with a bariatric surgeon.
Talk to a BodEvolve Bariatric Surgeon About the Better Long-Term Solution
Whether it is Farxiga versus Jardiance becomes less important than the broader question of whether bariatric surgery could not be a more effective treatment plan altogether compared to either drug. In fact, patients with a BMI ≥ 35 suffering from Type 2 diabetes would experience relief from the disease at rates ranging from 80-90% without having to use medications like Farxiga and Jardiance ever again.
Some bariatric surgeries that are usually recommended to diabetic obese patients include:
- Gastric bypass surgery with a success rate of 80-90%
- Gastric sleeve surgery with a success rate of 60-70%
- Duodenal switch with a success rate of 85-95%
- SADI surgery with a success rate of 80-90%
People from Dallas, Arlington, Richardson, Texarkana, and other parts of DFW area interested in bariatric surgery are invited for a free consultation. The surgeons have conducted over 14,000 surgeries and boast an ASMBS Center of Excellence designation. The surgeons include board-certified bariatric surgeons Dr. Clayton Frenzel and Dr. Brian L. Holt.
Choose resolution over medication.
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