There are many types of medications available to treat type 2 diabetes today.
You might be wondering how these medications work and whether or not they’re safe.
All medications come with potential side effects, which you should consider before starting a new medication.
Keep reading to find out the side effects of Jardiance, including common and severe.
What is Jardiance?
Jardiance is one of the brand names for the drug empagliflozin, a type of SGLT2 inhibitor. SGLT2 inhibitor drugs are used to help treat type 2 diabetes. Jardiance isn’t meant to be used in people with type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis.
Other medications include Jardiance such as Synjardy, a combination of Jardiance and metformin.
The Food and Drug Administration approved Jardiance to treat type 2 diabetes in 2014. It was approved for use to reduce cardiovascular death in people with type 2 diabetes in 2016 and again in 2021 to treat patients with heart failure.
Jardiance is most commonly prescribed in 10-milligram dosages taken in the morning. A 25-milligram dosage is also available.
How Jardiance works for diabetes
Jardiance works by reducing the amount of glucose excreted in your urine by decreasing the amount of glucose reabsorbed in your kidneys. Because it doesn’t stimulate insulin release, Jardiance doesn’t come with a risk of low blood sugar. 0.4% of participants developed low blood sugar in a controlled clinical trial, which wasn’t severe.
If you take Jardiance along with insulin, you may still develop low blood sugar while taking Jardiance. Insulin carries the largest risk of low blood sugar compared to other diabetes medications.
Jardiance may also offer cardioprotective benefits and reduce the risk of cardiovascular death, which is important since diabetes raises your risk of heart disease.
A study of over 7,000 people showed that people with cardiovascular disease had a 38% reduction in risk of cardiovascular death when taking Jardiance compared to a placebo.
All studies have found that medications like Jardiance lower blood pressure, which is important since you’re more likely to have high blood pressure if you have diabetes.
It’s unclear if Jardiance reduces the risk of heart disease by improving blood glucose or if it works by another mechanism.
Many people with type 2 diabetes are considered overweight or obese. Another potential benefit of Jardiance is that it may promote weight loss.
In clinical trials, those taking Jardiance lost around 1-4 kilograms (2.2-8.8 pounds) over 18-104 weeks after starting Jardiance. Weight loss can help improve glycemic control and reduce the likelihood of diabetes complications.
Side effects of Jardiance: common and severe
Common side effects
All medications come with the risk of adverse reactions. You should always speak with your healthcare provider if you’re worried about possible adverse reactions.
One of the most common side effects of Jardiance is an increased risk of a urinary tract infection. A urinary tract infection can arise from the increased amount of glucose in your urine which feeds bacteria that cause infections.
Women are more prone to urinary tract infections because their urethras are shorter than men’s, allowing bacteria to travel up towards the bladder. Left untreated, a urinary tract infection can cause kidney problems and kidney infections.
Other potential side effects more commonly reported while taking Jardiance include:
- Dehydration, which may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, and weakness
- Yeast infections (also called genital mycotic infections). Read our other article on how to avoid yeast infections on Jardiance for advice about avoiding this side effect.
- Low blood sugar – If you’re taking another medication like sulfonylureas or insulin, your risk of low blood sugar is increased since those medications cause low blood sugar on their own.
- Nausea
- Upper respiratory tract infections
- High cholesterol
- Joint pain
- Increased urination
- Thirst due to dehydration
- Low blood pressure
Severe side effects/complications of Jardiance
Diabetic ketoacidosis
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a complication from low insulin levels, which causes very high blood glucose levels. DKA typically impacts people with type 1 diabetes.
While rare, you may develop DKA when taking Jardiance for type 2 diabetes, even if your blood sugar levels aren’t above 250 mg/dL.
If you have symptoms like nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, tiredness, or trouble breathing, seek emergency medical care right away. It’s also a good idea to check your urine for ketones if you suspect DKA.
Pyelonephritis
If you develop a urinary tract infection from taking Jardiance, it may turn into pyelonephritis, which is a kidney infection. Pyelonephritis can lead to decreased kidney function and kidney injury.
Jardiance isn’t recommended if you have a GFR of less than 45, which indicates decreased kidney function. If you have chronic kidney disease, you should speak with your provider about which diabetes medications might be safe for you to take.
Necrotizing fasciitis
In rare cases, some people taking Jardiance developed necrotizing fasciitis from a bacterial infection. Necrotizing fasciitis damages the skin of the perineum, the thin layer of skin near the genitals.
Ways to reduce the side effects of Jardiance
One of the most common Jardiance side effects is urinary tract infections. Urinary infections can lead to kidney problems, so it’s important to prevent them.
You can help prevent urinary tract infections by:
- Drinking plenty of water. Drinking water helps dilute your urine and helps flush bacteria out of your urinary tract by urinating regularly.
- Wipe from front to back. Doing so after urinating and after a bowel movement helps prevent bacteria in the anal region from spreading to the vagina and urethra.
- Empty your bladder soon after intercourse.
- Avoid potentially irritating feminine products. Using deodorant sprays or other feminine products, such as douches and powders, in the genital area can irritate the urethra.
- Change your birth control method. Diaphragms, or unlubricated or spermicide-treated condoms, can all contribute to bacterial growth.
You can reduce the likelihood of other severe Jardiance side effects by monitoring your blood sugar levels. It’s also a good idea to have routine health exams done which monitor your kidney health and cholesterol levels, among others.
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Precautions
If you’re sick, you should monitor your blood sugar levels as well as your ketone levels. Measuring your ketones will let you know if you develop diabetic ketoacidosis, one of the rare but serious Jardiance side effects. Seek medical advice if you have symptoms of DKA while taking Jardiance.
Let your provider and/or pharmacist know if you have underlying heart issues, kidney disease, a history of DKA, or are prone to urinary tract infections. If you have kidney disease, ask your provider if Jardiance is safe for you to take.
If you’re prone to low blood pressure, you should monitor your blood pressure often when starting Jardiance. This is especially vital if you also take medication for high blood pressure.
If you plan to become pregnant, you should let your healthcare provider know. Jardiance isn’t meant to be used during pregnancy or lactation.
To avoid low blood sugar, talk with your healthcare provider about possibly reducing your insulin dose or sulfonylureas if you were taking them before adding Jardiance.
Conclusion
Jardiance has many potential benefits for improving glycemic control. Like any medication, there are possible adverse reactions from taking Jardiance. While most Jardiance side effects aren’t severe, there is a chance of more serious side effects that you should be aware of.
You should consider the risks of taking Jardiance and consider your personal health history before deciding to take medication. You and your healthcare provider should work together to discuss your options and develop the right care plan for you.
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