Jardiance® (empagliflozin) is a prescription oral medication used to manage type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and chronic kidney disease.
Jardiance
*image for illustrative purpose only
Jardiance
*image for illustrative purpose only
Jardiance® (empagliflozin) is an oral medication prescribed (alongside diet and exercise) to manage blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. It’s also used to reduce the risk of severe health issues in people with heart disease and/or chronic kidney disease.
Jardiance is a sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor. It works by blocking the SGLT2 protein in the kidneys. This reduces the amount of glucose (sugar) reabsorbed into the bloodstream and prompts the body to excrete glucose through the urine.
Beyond blood sugar management, Jardiance has been shown to reduce the risk of hospitalization for heart failure and heart attack and delay the progression of kidney disease, even in people without diabetes.
Common side effects may include genital fungal infections (such as yeast infections), urinary tract infections, increased urination, and fluid loss.
Jardiance (empagliflozin) is indicated:
To reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization for heart failure in adults with heart failure
To reduce the risk of sustained decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), end-stage kidney disease, cardiovascular death, and hospitalization in adults with chronic kidney disease at risk of progression
To reduce the risk of cardiovascular death in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and established cardiovascular disease
As an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults and pediatric patients aged 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor
Most common adverse reactions (5% or greater incidence) were:
Urinary tract infections
Female genital fungal infections
The cost of Jardiance may vary depending on factors such as dosage, insurance plan, and where you buy it. Without insurance, Jardiance can cost about $630 per month, but coupons and discount cards may be available to lower the price. With insurance, it may cost between $0 and $50 per month.
People eligible for the Jardiance Savings Card may pay as little as $10 monthly for a one- to three-month prescription.
Hypersensitivity to empagliflozin or any of the excipients in Jardiance
See the Full Prescribing Information for information on drug interactions and interference of Jardiance with laboratory tests
Diabetic ketoacidosis in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and other ketoacidosis
Volume depletion
Urosepsis and pyelonephritis
Low blood sugar
Necrotizing fasciitis of the perineum (Fournier's gangrene)
Genital fungal infections
Lower limb amputation
Hypersensitivity reactions
Pregnancy: Potential risk to a fetus especially during the second and third trimesters
Breastfeeding: Not recommended when breastfeeding
No. Jardiance and Ozempic are both used to treat type 2 diabetes, but they work differently in the body. Ozempic is an injectable GLP-1 medication that mimics a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar, slow digestion, and reduce appetite. Jardiance lowers blood sugar by preventing the kidneys from reabsorbing glucose, which is then excreted through your urine. The drugs also have different dosing, administration instructions, active ingredients, side effects, and drug interactions.
Jardiance is not classified as a weight loss drug, but evidence shows that it can contribute to a modest weight reduction. Clinical studies indicate an average weight loss of about 2 kilograms (4.5 pounds) in people taking Jardiance.
There are no specific foods to avoid while taking Jardiance, but it is prescribed alongside healthy diet changes. To help manage blood sugar, the American Diabetes Association recommends choosing more non-starchy vegetables, complex carbohydrates, lean meats, plant-based proteins, and low-fat dairy.
*This information is from the label for brand name Jardiance®. See the Full Prescribing Information for more complete information.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Learn more about our editorial standards here.
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