Does Jardiance cause weight loss?
Jardiance may help individuals with type 2 diabetes lose weight while taking this medication. It is not FDA-approved for people without type 2 diabetes.
What is Jardiance (empagliflozin)?
Jardiance is a brand-name medication used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is an oral tablet taken once per day and is used in addition to exercise and diet.
The active ingredient in Jardiance is empagliflozin. It is in a drug class called sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 or SGLT2 inhibitors. Jardiance works by helping the kidneys get rid of glucose from your body. In people with type 2 diabetes, the body does not use insulin properly. This causes the body to make more glucose, which can lead to high blood sugar levels. Jardiance helps to lower blood sugar levels by helping the kidneys get rid of glucose from the body.
Jardiance is used to treat symptoms of type 2 diabetes such as high blood glucose levels. It is not used to treat type 1 diabetes.
It is manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly.
Does Jardiance cause weight loss?
Jardiance is not FDA-approved for the treatment of weight loss. There is some evidence that people who take Jardiance have experienced weight loss. One clinical study found that people who took Jardiance lost an average of 2-3% of their body weight. However, it’s unclear if this weight loss is due to the medication or other factors such as changes in diet or exercise.
In clinical trials, Jardiance was linked to statistically significant reductions in hemoglobin A1C (a diagnostic tool used during type 2 diabetes treatment) and fasting plasma glucose, as well as measures of blood sugar control, when compared to other people who were taking an inactive placebo. Jardiance is classified as an SGLT-2 inhibitor and carries a low risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
In addition to controlling blood sugar levels, Jardiance has been found to successfully reduce both weight and the distribution of body fat including abdominal fat (visceral adiposity tissue or VAT). Abdominal body fat increases the risk of stroke, heart attack, and other cardiovascular events. Reducing belly fat helps with reducing the risk of death from heart disease or other cardiovascular health conditions.
If you’re considering taking Jardiance for weight loss, seek medical advice from your doctor or healthcare provider about the potential risks and benefits. They can help you decide if this medication is right for you.
Can I lose weight by taking Jardiance with metformin?
It is possible to lose weight while taking metformin with Jardiance. In a 24-week clinical trial study with over 600 participants, Jardiance was given as an add-on therapy to metformin and was proven to significantly improve weight loss in the trial.
The clinical trial also found that weight loss was also statistically significant when Jardiance was taken with metformin and a sulfonylurea in a clinical trial study that was conducted over a 24-week period.
Jardiance side effects
Most prescription drugs including Jardiance may have possible side effects.
Common side effects of Jardiance include:
- Low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia),
- Dehydration
- Urinary tract infections
- Genital yeast infections
Serious side effects are rare but can include:
- Diabetic ketoacidosis (a build-up of ketones in the blood or urine)
- Kidney disease or kidney problems
- Serious bacterial infection (ie Necrotizing fasciitis)
- Serious allergic reactions.
- Increased cholesterol levels
Jardiance is not right for everyone. Be sure to tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions and allergies before taking this diabetes drug. Discuss with your doctor if you are on any other medications, including diuretics, medications for heart disease, supplements or vitamins. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby.
Jardiance drug interactions
Jardiance can interact with vitamins, drugs or herbs that you are taking which can change the way a drug is meant to work or cause harm.
Jardiance can be added to other diabetes medications (ie metformin, insulin sulfonylurea) but the dosage may need to be lowered since Jardiance works to lower your blood sugar levels.
Your physician should review and manage all of your medications carefully to avoid any issues. Always discuss with your doctor about all supplements, herbs, vitamins or medications that you take and discuss if there is a possibility of any drug interactions.
Is Jardiance used for cardiovascular disease?
Cardiovascular disease includes conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels.
There is some evidence that Jardiance may help to lower the risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes in people with type 2 diabetes. Blood pressure and heart rate were found to be lower in people taking Jardiance compared to those not taking the medication. However, more research is needed to confirm these findings.
Jardiance has been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death in people with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In a clinical trial, Jardiance was shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death by 38%.
If you have type 2 diabetes and are at risk for cardiovascular disease, your doctor may prescribe Jardiance to help reduce your risk of cardiovascular death.
Does Jardiance reduce blood pressure?
Jardiance is not FDA-approved to treat high blood pressure. However, positive effects on blood pressure were discovered during clinical trials. Blood pressure levels were found to be reduced when using Jardiance alone and also with metformin.
When should I take Jardiance?
Jardiance is usually taken once daily with or without food. You should take Jardiance at the same time each day to maintain an even level of the medication in your blood.
Your doctor will determine the best dose for you based on your medical conditions and response to treatment.
Bottom line
- Jardiance may result in moderate weight loss for people who take this medication alone or in combination with other medications such as metformin or a sulfonylurea.
- Overall, people who take Jardiance may lose anywhere 2% to 3% of their weight. However, the weight loss percentage is variable and may be influenced by many factors including exercise and diet.
- In addition to possible weight loss, Jardiance can also have a positive effect on your cardiovascular (heart) health and reduce the risk of death from heart-related conditions.
- Taking this medication may also have positive effects on kidney health, blood pressure, and possible risks of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
