Jardiance is a name-brand prescription drug that is given to:

• enhance the food and exercise habits of those with type 2 diabetes in order to lower their blood sugar levels.
• lower the risk of cardiovascular death in persons who also have type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular illness
• minimize the likelihood of cardiovascular death and hospitalization in certain persons with heart failure

Empagliflozin, a medication, is present in Jardiance. As mentioned it is a member of the group of medications known as sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. The tablet form of Jardiance is administered orally once per day.

Jardiance (empagliflozin) works by inhibiting the sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2), a protein found in the early proximal tubule of a nephron (a kidney cell) that is responsible for the reabsorption of glucose back into circulation from the blood that flows through the kidneys (the glomerular filtrate). Empagliflozin prevents glucose resorption and increases the amount of glucose excreted in the urine by blocking this transporter.

While getting a refill for empagliflozin, as well as before you start taking it, read the medication guide that your pharmacist has provided. Ask your physician or pharmacist if you have any queries.

As prescribed by your doctor, take this medication by mouth once daily in the morning, with or without a meal. Your medical condition and treatment response will determine the dosage.

To reap the greatest benefits from this drug, take it frequently. Take it at the same time every day to aid in memory.

If your disease doesn't get better or gets worse, let your doctor know.

Jardiance can have mild to severe side effects. The following are some of the most common side effects of taking Jardiance. These are not all of the possible side effects.

Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information on Jardiance's potential side effects. They can advise you on how to deal with any side effects that are concerning or bothersome.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) monitors the side effects of drugs that it has approved. If you want to notify the FDA about a Jardiance side effect, you can do so through MedWatch.

More common side effects

Jardiance's more common side effects include:

• Urinary tract infections are characterized by symptoms such as burning while urinating, frequent urination, and cloudy urine
• Vaginal yeast infections, with signs like itchiness, soreness, and discomfort when urinating

Call your doctor if you have any of these symptoms. Over-the-counter or prescription medications may be required for treatment.

Serious side effects

Although they are uncommon, serious adverse effects from Jardiance can happen. Immediately contact your doctor if you have any severe adverse effects. If your symptoms seem life-threatening or you believe you are experiencing a medical emergency, dial 911.

These are some examples of severe side effects and associated signs:

• Hypotension (low blood pressure). Symptoms can include: lightheadedness, feeling dizzy or falling when standing up, clammy skin, loss of consciousness, depression
• Kidney damage. Symptoms can include: decreased urination, swelling in legs and ankles, confusion, fatigue
• Increased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels

Other serious side effects include:

• Ketoacidosis (buildup of ketones in the body, causing your blood to be too acidic)
• Serious urinary tract infections (including urosepsis and pyelonephritis)
• Fournier’s gangrene (severe infection near the genitals)
• Genital yeast infection
• Serious allergic reactions

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to empagliflozin or if you have any other allergies. Inactive ingredients in this product may cause allergic reactions or other problems. For more information, consult your pharmacist.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist about your medical history, especially if you have: kidney problems (such as kidney dialysis), liver problems, dehydration, alcohol use/abuse, low blood pressure, high cholesterol, or a history of yeast infections in the vagina or penis.

If you have diabetes, severely low or high blood sugar levels might cause blurred vision, lightheadedness, or sleepiness. Until you are certain that you can perform such activities safely, avoid driving, using machinery, or engaging in any other activity that calls for attention or sharp vision. While taking this medication, try to avoid alcohol as it can raise your risk of low blood sugar and a high ketone level.

When your body is stressed (such as due to fever, infection, injury, or surgery), it may be more difficult to control your blood sugar if you have diabetes. Furthermore, if you eat less or are unable to eat due to these conditions or any illness, this can result in a high ketone level while taking this medication. Consult your doctor because your treatment plan, medications, or blood sugar or ketone testing may need to be adjusted.

Inform your doctor or dentist about all of the products you use before having surgery (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).

Elderly people may be more sensitive to the drug's side effects, particularly dehydration, kidney problems, and dizziness/fainting (usually when standing).

This drug should only be taken during pregnancy if absolutely necessary. Describe the advantages and disadvantages to your doctor.

Diabetes can develop during pregnancy or get worse. With your doctor, go over a plan for controlling your blood sugar during pregnancy. Throughout your pregnancy, your doctor might alter your diabetes therapy (such as diet and medications including insulin).

It is unclear whether this medication enters breast milk. Before breastfeeding, speak with your doctor.

Consult your pharmacist or physician.

Medicines that interact with Jardiance may reduce its effect, shorten its duration of action, increase side effects, or have no effect when combined. An interaction between two medications does not always necessitate the discontinuation of one of them; however, it can. Consult your doctor about how to handle drug interactions.

Jardiance may interact with the following medications:

• acetazolamide
• anticonvulsants such as phenytoin
• antipsychotics, such as aripiprazole or clozapine
• beta-blockers, such as atenolol, labetalol, and metoprolol, may enhance the hypoglycemic effects
• ciprofloxacin or gatifloxacin
• corticosteroids, such as prednisone or cortisone
• diuretics, such as bumetanide, HCTZ, and bendroflumethiazide, which may enhance the potential for volume depletion
• HIV medications, such as amprenavir, atazanavir, and fosamprenavir
• hormones, such as ethinylestradiol and hydroxyprogesterone
• insulin (may increase the risk of hypoglycemia)
• isoniazid
• other medications that affect blood sugar levels or are used for diabetes, such as glimepiride, or metformin.

Jardiance may also increase the toxicity of alcohol, resulting in flushing.

As SGLT2 inhibitors like Jardiance increase urinary glucose excretion and can cause positive urine glucose tests, it is not advisable to use urine glucose tests to monitor glucose control in patients taking them. It is advisable to employ alternative techniques for monitoring glucose management. There may also be interference with 1,5-AG tests.

Note that only commonly used drugs that may interact with Jardiance are included in this list, which is not exhaustive. For a comprehensive list of interactions, consult the Jardiance prescribing instructions.

Call 911 if someone has overdosed and is experiencing serious symptoms such as passing out or difficulty breathing. Otherwise, contact a poison control center immediately. Residents in the United States can contact their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Residents of Canada can contact a provincial poison control center.

Notes

Do not give this medication to anyone else.

Before and/or during treatment, lab and/or medical tests (such as kidney function, blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and ketones) may be performed. Maintain all medical and laboratory appointments. For more information, speak with your doctor.

Attend a diabetes education session if you have the disease to learn more about how to control it with medicine, food, exercise, and routine checkups. Discover how to treat low blood sugar as well as the signs of high and low blood sugar. As indicated, check your blood sugar frequently.

Untaken Dose
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it if you miss it. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for the subsequent dose. At the scheduled time, take your subsequent dose. To catch up, do not increase the dose.

Storage
Away from light and moisture, keep items at room temperature. Keep out of the bathroom. Keep children and pets away from any drugs.

Unless otherwise directed, do not flush medications or pour them down the drain. When this product has expired or is no longer needed, properly dispose of it. Consult your pharmacist or a waste disposal company in your area.

Although weight loss is not a Jardiance-approved use, it is a potential side effect.

Those taking Jardiance alone or in combination with other diabetic medications in a clinical research lost between 1.8 percent and 3.2 percent of their body weight. Over the course of the treatment, there was a 24-week weight decrease.

In a different clinical trial, those who combined Jardiance and metformin experienced an average body weight loss of 3.9 percent. This investigation lasted 52 weeks.

Jardiance is thought to cause weight loss by assisting the body in losing sugar. Jardiance prevents the kidneys from reabsorbing glucose (blood sugar). The sugar and calories are then excreted in the urine. As a result, the body must process fewer calories, which may result in weight loss.

Jardiance is not an FDA-approved weight-loss medication. It should only be used as prescribed by your doctor. Jardiance should not be used for weight loss or any other purpose without the approval of your doctor.