All About Jardiance

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What is Jardiance?

If you have diabetes, your doctor may recommend Jardiance. It’s a prescription drug that’s used to:

  • manage blood sugar levels, together with lifestyle changes involving diet and exercise, in adults with type 2 diabetes
  • lower the risk of death in adults with both type 2 diabetes and heart or blood vessel disease

To learn more about these conditions and how Jardiance is used for them, see the “What is Jardiance used for?” section below.

Jardiance comes in tablets that you swallow. It belongs to a group of drugs called sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors.

The active drug in Jardiance is empagliflozin. It’s only available in a brand-name form, Jardiance. Empagliflozin doesn’t come as a generic drug.

Read on for information about Jardiance’s side effects, how it’s taken, and more.

What are Jardiance’s side effects?

Like most drugs, Jardiance may cause mild or serious side effects. The lists below describe some of the more common side effects, but they don’t include all the possible side effects.

Also, keep in mind that the side effects of a drug can depend on:

  • your age
  • other health conditions you have
  • other medications you are taking

Your doctor or pharmacist can give you more information about the potential side effects of Jardiance. They can also suggest ways to help reduce them.

Mild side effects

Here’s a list of some of the mild side effects that Jardiance may cause. You can learn more about these and other effects in the drug’s medication guide.

Mild side effects of Jardiance can include:

  • nausea
  • vaginal or penile yeast infection*
  • urinary tract infection (UTI)*
  • urinating more often than usual or making more urine than usual

Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days or weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

* For more information about this side effect, see the “Side effect focus” section below.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Jardiance can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have a serious side effect, call your doctor right away. If you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects can include:

  • kidney damage
  • dehydration (low fluid level), which may cause dizziness or weakness
  • ketoacidosis (a buildup of acid in your body)
  • low blood pressure
  • Fournier’s gangrene*
  • serious UTI*
  • allergic reaction*

These aren’t all the serious side effects of Jardiance. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information about these and other side effects of the drug.

* For more information about this side effect, see the “Side effect focus” section below.

Side effect focus

Learn more about some side effects that Jardiance may cause.

Fournier’s gangrene

Jardiance can cause a type of gangrene called Fournier’s gangrene. With this condition, tissues on or near your genitals become infected and die. This is a very serious condition that requires immediate medical treatment.

Symptoms of Fournier’s gangrene can include:

  • pain, redness, tenderness, or swelling in your genital or perineal area
  • fever
  • malaise (feeling weak and tired)

What might help

Call your doctor right away if you have symptoms of Fournier’s gangrene. They’ll check to see if you have the condition.

If you do, your doctor will recommend treatment. This could include antibiotics and surgery to remove any dead tissue.

You’ll stop taking Jardiance while you’re receiving treatment for Fournier’s gangrene. Your doctor will recommend the best way to manage your blood sugar levels until the gangrene goes away. Then, they’ll work to determine the best treatment going forward.

Genital yeast infections

It’s possible that you’ll develop a yeast infection while taking Jardiance.

This drug can cause yeast infections in males and females.* But in studies, yeast infections were more common in females.

You may have a higher risk of yeast infections with Jardiance if you’ve had one in the past.

Symptoms of a genital yeast infection may include:

  • itchiness
  • pain or soreness
  • rash
  • redness
  • swelling
  • thick white discharge

* In this article, the terms “male” and “female” refer to a person’s sex assigned at birth.

What might help

If you think you have a genital yeast infection, call your doctor. They will monitor your symptoms and check for an infection. If needed, they’ll write a prescription or recommend an over-the-counter medication.

To help prevent yeast infections, it’s important to drink plenty of water and have healthy hygiene habits.

Urinary tract infection

You may get a urinary tract infection (UTI) while taking Jardiance. The drug can cause UTIs in males and females.* But UTIs with Jardiance are more common in females.

If you’ve had UTIs in the past, you may have an increased risk of developing one with Jardiance. Be sure to talk with your doctor about this.

Symptoms of a UTI might include:

  • a burning sensation, pain, or urgency when urinating
  • dark or cloudy urine
  • fatigue (low energy level)
  • fever or chills
  • nausea
  • pain in the sides of your back

* In this article, the terms “male” and “female” refer to a person’s sex assigned at birth.

What might help

Call your doctor if you have any UTI symptoms. They will order tests to check for the infection and, if needed, they’ll recommend a treatment, such as antibiotics.

Drink plenty of water and practice healthy hygiene techniques to help prevent UTIs. Here are a few tips. And be sure to ask your doctor about other ways to prevent these infections.

Allergic reaction

Some people may have an allergic reaction to Jardiance. It isn’t known how often this happened in clinical trials. But it has been reported in rare cases after the drug was approved for use.

Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include:

  • skin rash
  • itchiness
  • flushing (warmth, swelling, or redness in your skin)

A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet. They can also include swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat, which can cause trouble breathing.

Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to Jardiance. If you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.

Before taking Jardiance, let your doctor know if you’ve had an allergic reaction to any medications.

How is Jardiance taken?

Your doctor will explain how to take Jardiance. They will also explain how much to take and how often. Be sure to follow these instructions. Below are commonly used dosages, but always take the dosage your doctor prescribes.

Taking Jardiance

Jardiance comes as tablets that you swallow.

Dosage

Jardiance tablets come in two strengths. Your doctor will recommend a dosage depending on:

  • your overall health and whether you have certain conditions, such as kidney disease or liver disease
  • other medications you take, such as drugs used for managing blood pressure or blood sugar levels

In most cases, you’ll take this drug once daily in the morning.

Taking Jardiance with other drugs

Your doctor may prescribe Jardiance together with other medications. They might do this if one drug isn’t working to lower your blood sugar levels enough by itself.

Several prescription drugs are used to treat type 2 diabetes. Here are a few examples:

  • alogliptin (Nesina)
  • dulaglutide (Trulicity)
  • glipizide (Glucotrol)
  • glyburide (Diabeta, Glynase)
  • insulin, such as insulin glargine (Basaglar, Lantus, Toujeo)
  • metformin (Fortamet, Glucophage, Glumetza, Riomet)
  • pioglitazone (Actos)
  • saxagliptin (Onglyza)
  • semaglutide (Ozempic)

Studies have shown that Jardiance is effective when it’s used as an add-on, second-line treatment with metformin. (This means that Jardiance is used along with another drug, metformin, which is the first-choice treatment option.)

In these studies, Jardiance was given to people with chronic (long-lasting) kidney disease, heart failure, or heart disease. The drug has protective effects on the heart and kidneys.

If you’d like to know more about using other treatments with Jardiance, talk with your doctor.

Questions about taking Jardiance

You may have questions about how to take Jardiance. Below, we offer some answers.

  • What if I miss a dose of Jardiance? If this happens, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. But if it’s close to your next scheduled dose, only take the next dose, like usual. Don’t double up your dose. Doing so can cause your blood sugar level to drop too low, which may be dangerous.
  • Will I need to take Jardiance long term? If Jardiance works well for you, your doctor may recommend that you take it long term. Talk with your doctor about your treatment plan for type 2 diabetes and how long you’ll need to take Jardiance.
  • Can Jardiance be chewed, crushed, or split? No, these tablets shouldn’t be crushed, split, or chewed. If you have trouble swallowing pills, talk with your doctor and pharmacist about your options. Also, these tips may help.
  • Should I take Jardiance with food? You’ll take Jardiance in the mornings, with or without food.
  • How long does Jardiance take to work? Jardiance starts to work in about 30 to 60 minutes. But when you first start taking the drug, it might take a few days to several weeks to manage your blood sugar levels. Your doctor will monitor your treatment progress and adjust your Jardiance dosage if needed.

Questions for your doctor

You may have questions about Jardiance and your treatment plan. It’s important to discuss all your concerns with your doctor.

Here are a few tips that might help guide your discussion:

  • Before your appointment, write down questions like:
    • how will Jardiance affect my body, mood, or lifestyle?
  • Bring someone to your appointment if it will help you feel more comfortable.
  • If you don’t understand something related to your condition or treatment, ask your doctor to explain it to you.

Remember, your doctor and other healthcare providers are available to help you. And they want you to get the best care possible. So don’t be afraid to ask questions or offer feedback on your treatment.

What should be considered before taking Jardiance?

Ask your doctor about all the possible benefits and risks of taking Jardiance. If you have problems with your kidneys or you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, ask if it’s safe to take this drug.

These and other considerations are described below.

Interactions

Taking medications, having vaccines, eating certain foods, and doing some other things while taking a drug can affect how the drug works. These effects are called interactions.

Before taking Jardiance, be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you take, including prescription and over-the-counter types. Also describe any vitamins, herbs, or supplements you use. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you about any interactions with Jardiance that these may cause.

Interactions with drugs or supplements

Jardiance can interact with other drugs, such as:

  • Insulin. If you take insulin with Jardiance, you may develop hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels). You’ll need to monitor your blood sugar levels carefully if you’re taking both insulin and Jardiance. This will help prevent a serious drop in your blood sugar levels.
  • Diuretics. if you take diuretics with Jardiance, they can lower your blood pressure and also cause changes in your blood sugar levels. These effects happen because both drugs may cause you to make more urine or need to urinate more often than usual. Be sure to talk with your doctor about the risks of taking Jardiance and diuretics together.

This list doesn’t contain all the drugs that may interact with Jardiance. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about these and any other possible interactions.

Warnings

Jardiance may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Jardiance.

Some factors to consider include those in the list below.

  • Low blood pressure. Jardiance may increase your risk of low blood pressure if you take blood pressure medications, already have low blood pressure, or have had it in the past. Before taking Jardiance, tell your doctor about any blood pressure problems you have.
  • Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Jardiance or any of its ingredients, you shouldn’t take this drug. Ask your doctor about other medications that may be more suitable for you.
  • Kidney or liver problems. If you have any kidney or liver problems, your doctor may adjust your dosage of Jardiance. Or, they may recommend a different medication. Tell your doctor about any kidney or liver problems before taking this drug.
  • History of urinary tract infections or genital yeast infections. Jardiance can increase your risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and genital yeast infections. If you have a history of either, you may have a higher risk with Jardiance. Be sure that your doctor is aware of any UTIs or yeast infections you’ve had in the past. Your doctor can then determine if Jardiance is safe for you or if another treatment would be better.
  • Planned surgery. Rarely, Jardiance may cause a serious side effect called ketoacidosis (a buildup of acid in your body.) Having surgery while taking Jardiance can increase your risk of this side effect. Before taking the drug, be sure to tell your doctor if you have any surgeries planned. If you need to have surgery while taking Jardiance, it’s important to tell your doctor. They may have you stop taking the drug until after your surgery.

Use with alcohol

Jardiance doesn’t interact with alcohol.

But drinking a lot of alcohol may raise your risk for certain side effects of Jardiance. These include:

  • dehydration (low fluid level)
  • low blood pressure
  • ketoacidosis (a buildup of acid in your body), which is rare but serious

Drinking alcohol while taking Jardiance may also:

  • affect how well your liver works
  • lead to interactions with other diabetes medications
  • lower your blood sugar levels too much

Talk with your doctor to see if it’s safe to drink alcohol while taking this drug.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, it may not be safe to take Jardiance. Talk with your doctor about the safety of taking this drug.

What are some frequently asked questions about Jardiance?

Find answers to some commonly asked questions about Jardiance.

Is Jardiance used for weight loss?

No, Jardiance isn’t approved as a weight loss medication. But weight loss may occur while you’re taking it.

Some studies found that people with type 2 diabetes lost weight while taking Jardiance. People in the studies were taking Jardiance either alone or with certain other medications.

Whether you lose weight with Jardiance may depend on:

  • your dosage of Jardiance
  • other medications you’re taking, such as metformin, for example
  • changes to your lifestyle habits involving diet and exercise

Talk with your doctor if you’d like to know more about weight loss with Jardiance.

How are Jardiance and Invokana alike and different?

Jardiance contains the active drug empagliflozin, while Invokana contains the active drug canagliflozin. But Jardiance and Invokana both belong to a group of medications called sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors.

Jardiance and Invokana are both used to treat type 2 diabetes in adults, together with changes to diet and exercise routines. Both medications are also used to lower certain heart-related risks in adults with both diabetes and heart disease. For example:

  • Jardiance is used to lower the risk of death from cardiovascular disease.
  • Invokana is used to lower the risk of death from heart disease. And it’s used to lower the risk of stroke or heart attack that doesn’t lead to death.

In addition, Invokana is used to reduce the risk of serious kidney disease in adults with type 2 diabetes and certain kidney problems related to diabetes.

You’ll take either Jardiance or Invokana by mouth once a day, in the morning. Invokana should be taken before you eat anything, but Jardiance can be taken with or without food.

These medications can cause some similar side effects and some different ones. Their similar side effects include:

  • low blood pressure
  • urinary tract infection (UTI)
  • yeast infection
  • ketoacidosis (a buildup of acid in your body)
  • kidney damage

If you’d like to know more about these drugs, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

How does Jardiance work?

Jardiance works by preventing blood sugar from moving from your bloodstream into your cells when your blood is filtered by your kidneys. This helps your body get rid of glucose through your urine, lowering the amount of glucose in your blood. So, your blood sugar levels become lower.

If you’d like to know more about how Jardiance works, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

What is Jardiance used for?

If you have diabetes, your doctor may recommend Jardiance. It’s used in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Jardiance is prescribed for:

  • managing blood sugar levels, together with lifestyle changes involving diet and exercise, in adults with type 2 diabetes
  • lowering the risk of death in adults with both type 2 diabetes and heart or blood vessel disease

Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) condition that causes high blood sugar levels. It happens when your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or doesn’t respond properly to insulin. (Insulin is a hormone that helps lower your blood sugar levels.)

With high blood sugar levels, your heart and blood vessels can become damaged over time.

Jardiance works to lower blood sugar levels by helping your body eliminate sugar. This way, your blood sugar levels don’t become high.

Note: Jardiance isn’t meant to be used by people who have type 1 diabetes. It’s also not meant to treat diabetic ketoacidosis, a buildup of acid caused by high blood sugar levels.

What does Jardiance cost?

The costs of prescription drugs vary, depending on many factors. These include what your insurance plan covers and which pharmacy you use. To find current prices for Jardiance in your area, visit GoodRx.com.

If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You can also visit the Jardiance manufacturer’s website to see if they have support options.

What should be done in case of overdose?

Don’t take more Jardiance than your doctor prescribes. Using more than this can lead to serious side effects.

If an overdose happens, you may have side effects that may be dangerous. These can include:

  • damage to your kidneys
  • ketoacidosis (a buildup of acid in your body)
  • hypoglycemia (low blood sugar level)

What to do in case you take too much Jardiance

Call your doctor if you think you’ve taken too much Jardiance. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach the American Association of Poison Control Centers, or use their online resource. However, if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 (or your local emergency number) or go to the nearest emergency room.

Ask your doctor

Many options other than Jardiance are available for managing type 2 diabetes. These include both medications and lifestyle changes. There are also medications other than Jardiance for people with heart disease.

If you’d like to, ask your doctor for more information about Jardiance and other medications for your condition. They can help find the best option for you.

Keep in mind that diet and exercise changes can help manage blood sugar levels. Ask your doctor or a registered dietician about diet tips for people with type 2 diabetes.

You might also find these apps helpful for managing diabetes. And to learn more about type 2 diabetes and its treatment options, you can sign up for Healthline’s type 2 diabetes newsletter.

Before taking Jardiance, ask your doctor about what to expect from the treatment. Here are some questions to help you get started:

  • How can I prevent sudden changes in my blood sugar levels while taking Jardiance?
  • Will I be able to tell if Jardiance is working for me?
  • How soon will my blood sugar levels go down after I take Jardiance?

Ask a pharmacist

Q:

Is it safe to take Jardiance on an empty stomach?

Anonymous patient

A:

Yes, it’s safe to take Jardiance on an empty stomach. Jardiance may be safely taken with or without food. This is unlike some other diabetes drugs that must be taken at certain times around your meals to help avoid a drop in your blood sugar level.

If you have more questions about when to take this medication, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Alex Brewer, PharmD, MBAAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

Healthline

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.