From the Guidelines
Jardiance (empagliflozin) commonly causes urinary tract infections, genital yeast infections, increased urination, and volume depletion symptoms like dizziness and low blood pressure in type 2 diabetes patients. Management includes proper genital hygiene, adequate hydration, monitoring for dehydration signs, and temporary medication adjustment during illness. Patients should be educated about recognizing and reporting symptoms of rare but serious side effects such as diabetic ketoacidosis, necrotizing fasciitis, and acute kidney injury 1. Regular monitoring of kidney function is recommended, especially when starting treatment. Jardiance works by blocking glucose reabsorption in the kidneys, causing glucose excretion in urine, which explains many of its side effects. Patients should maintain hydration of 6-8 glasses of water daily, practice good genital hygiene, and seek medical attention for persistent infections, significant weight loss, severe abdominal pain, or difficulty breathing. Those with kidney disease, elderly patients, and those on diuretics need closer monitoring for side effects.
Some key points to consider:
- The most common side effects of Jardiance include urinary tract infections, genital yeast infections, and increased urination 1.
- Patients should be monitored for signs of dehydration, such as dizziness and low blood pressure 1.
- Regular monitoring of kidney function is recommended, especially when starting treatment 1.
- Patients should be educated about recognizing and reporting symptoms of rare but serious side effects such as diabetic ketoacidosis, necrotizing fasciitis, and acute kidney injury 1.
- Jardiance has been shown to reduce the risk of hospitalization for heart failure and cardiovascular death in patients with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease 1.
Overall, while Jardiance can cause several side effects, its benefits in reducing the risk of cardiovascular events and hospitalization for heart failure make it a valuable treatment option for patients with type 2 diabetes.
From the FDA Drug Label
The most common adverse reactions associated with JARDIANCE (5% or greater incidence) were urinary tract infections and female genital mycotic infections Inform patients that the most common adverse reactions associated with the use of JARDIANCE are urinary tract infections and mycotic genital infections.
The common side effects of Jardiance (empagliflozin) in patients with type 2 diabetes are:
- Urinary tract infections
- Female genital mycotic infections To manage these side effects, patients should:
- Seek medical advice promptly if symptoms of urinary tract infections or genital mycotic infections occur
- Inform their doctor about any unusual symptoms or worsening of known symptoms
- Follow dietary instructions and stay hydrated to reduce the risk of dehydration and hypotension 2
From the Research
Common Side Effects of Jardiance (Empagliflozin)
- Genital infections 3, 4, 5
- Kidney failure 3
- Diabetic ketoacidosis 3
- Hepatotoxicity 3
- Risk of cancer (especially bladder cancer) 3
- Volume depletion and a fall in blood pressure, especially during co-administration with other diuretics or antihypertensive drugs 3
Management of Jardiance (Empagliflozin) in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
- Empagliflozin is generally well tolerated as monotherapy or as add-on therapy 6
- It has a low inherent risk of hypoglycaemia due to its insulin-independent mechanism of action 6
- It can be used in combination with other antidiabetic agents with complementary modes of action to improve glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes 6
- Empagliflozin has been shown to have cardioprotective and renoprotective properties, largely independent of glycaemic control, in patients with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease 6, 4, 7
- It is worthy of preferential consideration in patients at high cardiovascular risk who require an additional antidiabetic medication to attain their glycaemic goal 6