Jardiance side effects and how to avoid them

Jardiance is used to control blood glucose levels and protect the heart in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is often prescribed with other diabetes medications such as metformin. Jardiance can cause adverse reactions as can all medications. The more common side effects of Jardiance tend to be drowsiness and feeling more thirsty than usual. It’s important to talk to your healthcare professional for medical advice about possible side effects that trouble you or are persistent. Learn more about Jardiance side effects and how to avoid them.

What is Jardiance?

Jardiance is the brand name of a prescription drug manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals. It is an FDA-approved medicine prescribed to adults with type 2 diabetes and heart disease to:

• Improve blood sugar levels  in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus alongside diet and exercise
• Lower the risk of cardiovascular death from a heart attack, stroke, or heart failure in adults with type 2 diabetes who also have heart disease

This medication can help you lower your blood sugar levels when taken alongside dietary and lifestyle changes. It causes you to excrete more sugar in your urine than you would normally. This lowers your blood sugar and helps to reduce your risk of health conditions like cardiovascular disease. Jardiance can not be used to treat type 1 diabetes or used during breastfeeding. It is not known if this drug passes into breast milk.

Jardiance active ingredients

The active ingredient in Jardiance is called empagliflozin. It is classed as a sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2 inhibitor). It lowers your blood sugar levels by causing you to lose more sugar in your urine than you usually would.

Your kidneys help recycle sugar back into your blood from your urine with the help of a protein called sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT-2). Empagliflozin blocks this protein from working, reducing how much sugar your kidneys recycle. This makes you lose more sugar in your urine, rather than it being recycled back into your blood.

Jardiance comes as an oral tablet that you take with water. Doses available are 10mg and 25 mg. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time.

Jardiance side effects

Common side effects of Jardiance include:

• Feeling more thirsty than usual
• Drowsiness
• A skin rash – this may be itchy and include raised bumps and blisters that leak fluid, and may cause your skin to redden
• An increase in cholesterol levels (this may show up in blood tests)
• Vaginal yeast infection
• Genital yeast infection in men
• Raised cholesterol levels
• Urinary tract infection (UTI)
• Increased urination
• Lightheadedness
• Weight loss

In rare instances, Jardiance can cause more serious side effects, including:

• Severe allergic reactions to the medication e.g. hives
• A rare but serious bacterial infection that damages tissue under the skin (necrotizing fasciitis) in the area between the anus and genitals (perineum), called Fournier’s gangrene
• Diabetic ketoacidosis, a potentially life-threatening condition where your body breaks down too much fat too quickly, causing you to produce high levels of blood acids called ketones
• An increased risk of serious urinary tract infections
• A high and potentially harmful increase in your cholesterol levels
• Low blood pressure (hypotension)
• Diabetic ketoacidosis symptoms such as stomach pain, unusual tiredness, trouble breathing
• Kidney problems e.g. kidney disease and patients receiving dialysis
• Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) particularly when used with other medications like insulin or sulfonylurea
• Dehydration

What are the worst side effects of Jardiance?

Jardiance can cause some common side effects such as vaginal yeast infections, genital yeast infections in men, and urinary tract infections. However, Jardiance can cause worse more serious side effects. These include serious allergic reactions, diabetic ketoacidosis, and hypoglycemia. Speak to your doctor for medical advice if you experience any of these side effects.

Does Jardiance cause any side effects on your eyes?

Side effects of Jardiance on the eyes have not been reported in people who took this medication. However, blurry vision and other eye problems can happen when your blood sugar is high.

What does Jardiance do to your perineum?

Jardiance may cause a bacterial infection, called necrotizing fasciitis of the perineum or Fournier’s gangrene. This can damage the tissue beneath the skin between and around the anus and genitals (perineum). This may lead to hospitalization. Speak to your doctor immediately if you have signs of fever, unusual tiredness or weakness, pain, redness, or swelling of the perineum between your anus and genitals.

Jardiance drug interactions

Jardiance can also interact with other medications, which can limit its effectiveness, including:

• Any other diabetes medications, like insulin or sulfonylureas e.g glyburide
• Other medications that can lower your blood sugar levels, like diuretics (water pills), corticosteroids, estrogens, oral contraceptives, nicotinic acid, and calcium channel blocking drugs

Talk with your health care provider for medical advice regarding any side effects or drug interactions you may have. Read the medication guide and instructions for use that come with Jardiance for the full drug information. You are encouraged to report the negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

How to avoid Jardiance side effects

1. Stick to the recommended dosage

Take your prescribed dose that has been recommended by your healthcare professional once daily at the same time each day with water. Taking your medication consistently will make a big difference in how well Jardiance works for you.

Your healthcare provider may adjust the dose of Jardiance or your other medications to find the best dosage for your specific needs.

2. Discuss medical history

Discussing your medical history with your healthcare provider is important to help them understand how well Jardiance will work for you. Give a complete list of all the prescription drugs, including over-the-counter meds, supplements, and medical conditions you may have. Talking with your doctor will allow them to pick up any drug interactions with Jardiance and help manage any possible side effects.

3. Reduce alcohol intake

Excessive alcohol intake puts you at a higher risk of developing chronic inflammation of the pancreas. This is known as pancreatitis and can lead to permanent damage to the pancreas and its ability to manage the production, storage, and release of insulin.

If you are planning to drink alcohol and you have diabetes, aim to always stay within the recommended guidelines. This is the safest way to drink alcohol.

4. Pay attention to your body

Paying attention to how your body feels when taking Jardiance is important, as uncontrolled blood sugar can be fatal. It is useful to keep a diary log of your blood glucose readings and how you are feeling.

Seek immediate medical attention if you feel your blood sugar levels are uncontrolled. Talk to your doctor straight away if you start to experience any side effects of Jardiance when taking it, and if you feel the medication is not working for you.

5. Store Jardiance correctly

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Do not store in the bathroom.

Knowing how to store your medication is important to make sure it remains as effective as possible. Using expired or improperly stored medication could result in the medication not working properly and even causing unwanted side effects.