What is Jardiance Uses, warnings & interactions
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Get started todayJardiance (empagliflozin) is a prescription medication that is used along with diet and exercise to treat type 2 diabetes. It can also be used to reduce the risk of heart-related complications in patients with certain medical conditions. Jardiance is not indicated to treat type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis.
Jardiance overview
- Jardiance
- Treatment of type 2 diabetes
- Empagliflozin
- Oral
- Film-coated tablet
- SGLT2 inhibitor
What is Jardiance used for?
Jardiance (empagliflozin) is a prescription sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor that is manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals. It is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA):
- To reduce the risk of cardiovascular death (heart attack and stroke) and hospitalization for heart failure in adults with heart failure.
- To reduce the risk of cardiovascular death (heart attack and stroke) in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and established cardiovascular disease.
- In addition to diet and exercise to improve blood glucose control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
How does Jardiance work?
Jardiance works by inhibiting the sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT-2) found in the kidneys. By inhibiting SGLT2, Jardiance reduces renal reabsorption of glucose back into your bloodstream and increases urinary excretion of glucose. Jardiance also lowers sodium reabsorption and both pre-and afterload of the heart, which makes it easier for your heart to pump blood throughout your body.
What are the most commonly prescribed doses of Jardiance?
- 10 mg tablet
- 25 mg tablet
How to take Jardiance
- Read the Instructions for Use and Medication Guide, including the Boxed Warning that comes with your Jardiance prescription.
- Take Jardiance exactly as your doctor has prescribed it.
- Jardiance should be taken once daily in the morning, with or without food.
- If you miss a dose of Jardiance, take the missed dose immediately. If you don’t remember until it’s time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and start back on your regular dosing schedule. Don’t take an extra dose of Jardiance to make up for the missed dose.
- If you take too much Jardiance, call your doctor or go to the nearest emergency room immediately.
- Your doctor may perform blood tests to assess your kidney function before and during your treatment. Jardiance is not used to lower blood sugar in patients with type 2 diabetes who have severe kidney problems, as it may not work.
- Store Jardiance at room temperature between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C) away from light and moisture.
- Always keep Jardiance and all medications out of the reach of children.
- Notify your doctor if you are pregnant, plan on becoming pregnant, or are breastfeeding.
Jardiance contraindications
Jardiance is contraindicated in:
- Patients with a hypersensitivity to empagliflozin or any of the excipients in Jardiance.
- Patients on dialysis.
Jardiance warnings
- Assess patients who present with signs and symptoms of metabolic acidosis for ketoacidosis (nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, drowsiness, or trouble breathing). Jardiance should be stopped and treatment for ketoacidosis should be started immediately.
- Jardiance can increase your risk of dehydration and volume depletion. Your doctor should check your kidney function before starting Jardiance if you have kidney disease, are elderly, or are on loop diuretics. You should be monitored for signs and symptoms of volume depletion during therapy (urinating less than usual, dry mouth/thirst, increased heart rate, dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting).
- You should be evaluated and treated if you have signs and symptoms of urosepsis and pyelonephritis (urinary tract infections).
- Your dose of an insulin secretagogue or insulin may need to be reduced when starting Jardiance to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
- Jardiance increases the risk of a life-threatening genital infection (Fournier’s Gangrene) in both males and females. Prompt treatment should be started if you have symptoms such as pain, tenderness, redness, and swelling, in the genital or perineal area along with fever and tiredness.
- You should be monitored for genital mycotic infections (yeast infections) while taking Jardiance.
- Serious hypersensitivity reactions (angioedema) have occurred while taking Jardiance. You should discontinue Jardiance immediately and seek medical advice if a hypersensitivity reaction occurs.
Jardiance drug interactions
When Jardiance is taken with other medicines, they may interact and change how those work. It may also increase the severity of certain side effects or make them more likely to occur. Make sure your healthcare provider is aware of all the medications you take, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Some common drug interactions of Jardiance include:
- Coadministration of Jardiance with diuretics may result in increased urine volume and frequency, which can increase your risk of volume depletion or hypotension (low blood pressure).
- Your risk of hypoglycemia is increased if you take Jardiance in combination with insulin secretagogues (sulfonylurea) or insulin.
- Jardiance can interfere with urine glucose tests and certain blood assays used to monitor your glycemic control.
Side effects of Jardiance
Some possible side effects of Jardiance may include:
- Urinary tract infections
- Female genital mycotic infections (yeast infection)
- Upper respiratory tract infection
- Increased urination
- Nausea
- Joint pain
- Excessive thirst
- Weight loss
Some serious side effects of Jardiance include:
- Ketoacidosis (increased ketones in your blood or urine)
- Volume depletion, especially if taken with loop diuretics (water pills)
- Genital infection (Fournier’s Gangrene)
- Increased risk of hypoglycemia when used along with insulin secretagogues or insulin
- Serious allergic reactions
You can report any side effects you experience to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
Jardiance alternatives
There are other type 2 diabetes medications that your healthcare professional can prescribe if Jardiance is not the right medication for you. Some alternative FDA-approved treatment options include:
- Tradjenta (linagliptin)
- Ozempic (semaglutide)
- Januvia (sitagliptin)
- Glucophage (metformin)
- Actos (pioglitazone)
Is Jardiance better than Glucophage (metformin)?
Jardiance belongs to a class of medications called SGLT2 inhibitors that works by reducing the reabsorption of glucose back into your bloodstream and increasing glucose excretion through your kidneys. Metformin belongs to a class of medications called biguanides, that work by making it easier for your cells to take in and use sugar. It also decreases the amount of sugar you absorb from food and decreases how much sugar your liver produces.
Metformin is considered by the American Diabetes Association as the first choice of treatment for patients with type 2 diabetes. If metformin doesn’t provide enough blood sugar control, your doctor may prescribe another diabetes medication such as Jardiance.
While there are no studies that directly compare their effectiveness, Jardiance and metformin have both been shown to be effective at lowering blood sugar in type 2 diabetic patients. Jardiance may also protect against kidney and heart disease complications.
There is a big price between the two medications. Metformin is relatively inexpensive and costs around $25 for a month’s supply of #60, 500mg tablets. Jardiance is much more expensive, costing around $600 for a month’s supply of #30, 25mg tablets.
Jardiance FAQs
Will Jardiance work for heart failure patients if they don’t have type 2 diabetes?
Yes, clinical trials have shown that Jardiance works for patients with heart failure, whether they have type 2 diabetes or not.
How does Jardiance help with heart failure?
Jardiance may help with heart failure by reducing the load on your heart, making it easier to pump blood throughout your body.
Will I lose weight with Jardiance?
While Jardiance is not used for weight loss, it may help you lose some weight. In a study with Jardiance alone, patients taking the 10mg dose lost an average of 2.5% of their body weight. Those on the 25mg dose lost an average of 2.8%.
How long does Jardiance stay in the system?
Based on a half-life of around 12.5 hours, Jardiance will remain in circulation for approximately 2.5 days after the last dose.
Does Jardiance cause withdrawal?
Do not stop taking Jardiance without talking to your doctor. Your blood sugar level may increase if you stop using it.
How do I store Jardiance?
Jardiance should be stored at room temperature between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C) away from light and moisture.
How long does it take for Jardiance to start working?
Your blood glucose levels should start to decline within the first 4 weeks of starting Jardiance.
Is there a generic for Jardiance?
Currently, there is not a generic for Jardiance available on the market. However, you can still save on brand-name drugs like Jardiance with the help of NiceRx.
