From the Guidelines
Jardiance (empagliflozin) commonly causes urinary tract infections, genital yeast infections, increased urination, thirst, and dehydration due to its mechanism of increasing glucose excretion in urine. The most common side effects of Jardiance include:
- Urinary tract infections
- Genital yeast infections
- Increased urination
- Thirst
- Dehydration Some patients may also experience low blood pressure symptoms like dizziness, especially when standing up quickly. Gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, constipation, or diarrhea may occur. More serious but less common side effects include diabetic ketoacidosis (characterized by nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fatigue, and difficulty breathing), acute kidney injury, and necrotizing fasciitis of the perineum (Fournier's gangrene) 1. Jardiance can also cause hypoglycemia, particularly when combined with insulin or insulin secretagogues 1. According to the most recent study in 2024, the primary outcome of Jardiance includes a reduced risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and cardiovascular death or heart failure hospitalization 1. Patients should stay well-hydrated while taking this medication and report any persistent or severe side effects to their healthcare provider immediately. These side effects occur because Jardiance works by inhibiting sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) in the kidneys, which changes how the body processes glucose and can affect multiple body systems.
From the FDA Drug Label
JARDIANCE can cause serious side effects, including: Dehydration. JARDIANCE can cause some people to have dehydration (the loss of body water and salt) Dehydration may cause you to feel dizzy, faint, light-headed, or weak, especially when you stand up (orthostatic hypotension). Vaginal yeast infection Women who take JARDIANCE may get vaginal yeast infections. Symptoms of a vaginal yeast infection include: vaginal odor white or yellowish vaginal discharge (discharge may be lumpy or look like cottage cheese) vaginal itching Yeast infection of the penis (balanitis or balanoposthitis). Men who take JARDIANCE may get a yeast infection of the skin around the penis Certain men who are not circumcised may have swelling of the penis that makes it difficult to pull back the skin around the tip of the penis Other symptoms of yeast infection of the penis include: redness, itching, or swelling of the penis rash of the penis foul smelling discharge from the penis pain in the skin around penis
The common side effects of Jardiance include:
- Dehydration: causing dizziness, faintness, lightheadedness, or weakness
- Vaginal yeast infections: with symptoms such as vaginal odor, discharge, and itching
- Yeast infections of the penis (balanitis or balanoposthitis): with symptoms such as redness, itching, swelling, rash, foul-smelling discharge, and pain 2
From the Research
Common Side Effects of Jardiance
- Genital infections, as reported in studies 3, 4, 5
- Kidney failure, as mentioned in studies 3, 5
- Diabetic ketoacidosis, as noted in study 3
- Hepatotoxicity, as reported in study 3
- Risk of cancer, especially bladder cancer, as mentioned in study 3
- Volume depletion and a fall in blood pressure, especially during co-administration with other diuretics or antihypertensive drugs, as reported in studies 3, 6
- Urinary tract infections, as noted in study 5
- Increased risk of hypoglycemia when given with sulfonylurea, as mentioned in study 5
- Small increases in hematocrit and lipid levels, as reported in study 5
Special Considerations
- Patients at risk of volume depletion require careful consideration when treated with Jardiance, as noted in study 5
- Co-administration with diuretic agents may increase urinary glucose excretion and activate the renin-angiotensin system, as reported in study 6
- Jardiance may interact with nephrotoxic drugs, which can aggravate its adverse effects and decrease its hypoglycemic potency, as mentioned in study 3