Jardiance (empagliflozin)

Jardiance (empagliflozin) is an oral medication used to improve glycemia (blood glucose) control in patients with type 2 diabetes. Jardiance is a sodium-glucose cotransporter (SGLT2) inhibitor. It is similar to canagliflozin (Invokana) and dapagliflozin (Farxiga).

• Jardiance is used with diet and exercise to control blood glucose in adults with type 2 diabetes.
• Jardiance also is used to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death (for example, death from heart attacks) in adults with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

The most common side effects of Jardiance are:

• Urinary tract infections
• Female genital fungal infections
• Upper respiratory tract infection
• Increased cholesterol
• Joint pain
• Nausea
• Increased creatinine
• Increased urination

Other possible side effects of Jardiance include:

• Volume depletion and associated conditions, which include:
  • Dehydration
  • Fainting
  • Thirst
  • Low blood pressure
  • Orthostatic hypotension

Serious side effects of Jardiance include:

• Hypotension
• Kidney failure
• Ketoacidosis
• Kidney infections (pyelonephritis)
• Hypoglycemia (when combined with insulin or sulfonylureas)

• The recommended dose of Jardiance is 10 mg once daily. It should be taken in the morning with or without food. The dose may be increased to 25 mg daily based on patient tolerance and blood glucose levels.
• Patients with volume depletion should be treated for their depletion before receiving Jardiance.
• Jardiance should not be used by patients whose glomerular filtration rate (a measure of kidney function) is 45 mL/min/1.73 m²

• Combining Jardiance with diuretics increases the frequency of urination and volume of urine produced. This may increase the risk of dehydration.
• Combining Jardiance with insulin or drugs that increase insulin secretion increases the risk for hypoglycemia.
• Jardiance and other SGLT2 inhibitors increase excretion of glucose in urine and will cause positive urine glucose tests. Therefore, monitoring glucose control with urine glucose tests is not recommended in patients taking SGLT2 inhibitors. Alternative tests should be used to monitor glucose control.

• Use of Jardiance has not been adequately evaluated in pregnant women. In animal studies, Jardiance affected renal (kidney) development and maturation in rats. Jardiance is not recommended during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.
• It is not known whether Jardiance is excreted in human breast milk. However, Jardiance is secreted in the milk of lactating rats, and exposure damages the developing kidneys in the rat fetus. Currently, the manufacturer does not recommend use of Jardiance while nursing.

Do I need a prescription for Jardiance (empagliflozin)?

• Yes

What preparations of Jardiance are available?

• Tablets: 10, 25 mg

How should I keep Jardiance stored?

• Store empagliflozin at room temperature, between 15 C and 30 C (59 F and 86 F).

How does Jardiance work?

• SGLT2 is found in the kidney tubules and is responsible for reabsorbing the majority of glucose filtered out of the blood by the kidneys. By inhibiting SGLT2 empagliflozin reduces the reabsorption of filtered glucose and consequently increases excretion of glucose in the urine. Empagliflozin is not recommended for use in patients with moderate to severe kidney disease.

When was Jardiance approved by the FDA?

• Empagliflozin was approved by the US FDA in August 2014.