Jardiance (drug name empagliflozin) is an oral medication used to treat type 2 diabetes.
It works by reducing the amount of sugar absorbed by your kidneys and excreting it in your urine.
If you’ve been prescribed Jardiance to help manage your diabetes, it’s important to know which drugs might interact with it.
Drug interactions may cause a range of symptoms, from mild to severe.
Your healthcare provider and pharmacist can provide guidance to help avoid drug interactions, but knowledge is power, especially when it comes to your health.
In this article, we’ll review some of the most common drugs that should not be taken with Jardiance.
6 potential drug interactions with Jardiance
1) Insulin
Taking Jardiance in addition to medications that can cause low blood sugar – such as insulin – increases your risk of low blood sugar.
If your healthcare provider prescribes Jardiance and you’re already taking any type of insulin (e.g., long-acting like insulin detemir, regular insulin, or rapid-acting insulin like insulin aspart), they might need to reduce or adjust your dose of insulin.
If you develop signs of low blood sugar while taking Jardiance and insulin, reach out to your healthcare provider for guidance.
Some of the most common symptoms of low blood sugar include:
- Fast heartbeat
- Shaking
- Sweating
- Nervousness or anxiety
- Irritability or confusion
- Dizziness
- Hunger
2) Sulfonylureas
After insulin, sulfonylureas (a group of drugs used to treat diabetes) are generally considered to have the highest risk of causing low blood sugar.
Sulfonylureas stimulate your pancreas to produce more insulin, the hormone that lowers your blood sugar level.
Like insulin, taking sulfonylureas along with Jardiance increases your risk of developing low blood sugar.
Some of the most well-known sulfonylureas include:
- Glipizide
- Glimepiride
- Glyburide
3) Glinides
Glinides are a class of diabetes medications that increase insulin secretion (similar to sulfonylureas).
Because they increase your risk of low blood sugar, glinides may interact with Jardiance and cause worsening low blood sugar compared to each drug by itself.
Glinides are taken before meals and help by reducing the rise in blood sugar after eating.
Glinides aren’t as commonly used as other medications like metformin, but they are still used because of their efficacy.
The two drugs classified as glinides are:
- Prandin (Repaglinide)
- Starlix (Nateglinide)
4) Certain diuretics
Jardiance increases your risk of becoming dehydrated, which can lead to kidney problems and other adverse side effects.
If you’re taking other medications to reduce fluid buildup from your body, your risk of dehydration and kidney damage is even higher.
Diuretics are a class of medications used to treat high blood pressure, heart failure, and other conditions that are worsened by fluid retention. Diuretics are often referred to as “water pills.”
The most common class of diuretics used are thiazide diuretics, which studies show work by blocking your kidneys from taking up sodium (salt) and increasing the amount of fluid excreted in your urine, which lowers blood pressure and reduces fluid retention.
Some diuretics that can cause dehydration and may interact with Jardiance are:
- Furosemide (brand name Lasix)
- Hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide)
- Spironolactone (Aldactone)
- Chlorothiazide (Diuril)
- Chlorthalidone
- Indapamide
- Metolazone
5) Other SGLT2 inhibitors
Jardiance is in a class of diabetes medications called SGLT2 inhibitors. Taking Jardiance with other SGLT2 inhibitors can increase your risk of developing both minor and more severe side effects, so they shouldn’t be taken together.
Besides Jardiance, the other SGLT2 inhibitors are:
- Brenzavvy (bexagliflozin)
- Invokana (canagliflozin)
- Farxiga (dapagliflozin)
- Steglatro (ertugliflozin)
6) Lithium
Taking SGLT2 inhibitors like Jardiance impacts your body’s clearance of lithium, a medication used to treat bipolar disorder and other mental health conditions.
According to a study, medications like Jardiance can lower blood levels of lithium, which can reduce its efficacy at treating mental health conditions they’re prescribed to treat.
If you’re taking other medications for mental health conditions besides lithium, there is no need to discontinue them since lithium is the only mental health medication known to interact with SGLT2 inhibitors.
Never stop taking a prescribed medication without first speaking with your healthcare provider since doing so can lead to potentially harmful side effects in some instances.
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When to talk to your doctor about a Jardiance medication interaction
If you think you’re experiencing a Jardiance medication interaction, you should reach out to your prescribing healthcare provider immediately.
The most likely signs and symptoms of a medication interaction can include:
- Signs of low blood sugar include dizziness, shakiness, sweating, and low blood sugar readings during at-home testing.
- Signs of dehydration can include reduced urine output, increased thirst, strong-smelling and dark-colored urine, dry mouth, and fatigue.
- Worsening mental health symptoms (if you’re taking lithium for mental health disorders like bipolar disorder). These worsening symptoms can include extreme mood fluctuations, mania (feeling overly elated or happy), being easily agitated, or having hallucinations.
If you develop signs of a kidney injury or kidney failure from dehydration (which can be worsened by Jardiance interactions), consult emergency medical attention immediately.
Signs of kidney problems that are alarming and require immediate attention include:
- Very little urine output
- Increased blood pressure
- Swelling of your legs, ankles, or around your eyes
- Confusion
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
Conclusion
- Jardiance is the brand name for empagliflozin, an oral medication used to treat type 2 diabetes.
- Certain medications are known to interact with Jardiance, including insulin, sulfonylureas, glinides, diuretics, lithium, and other medications in the same drug class as Jardiance (SGLT2 inhibitors).
- If you suspect a possible medication interaction with Jardiance, it is advisable to promptly consult your healthcare provider for guidance.
- If you develop severe signs of dehydration and kidney problems, it warrants emergency medical attention.
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