Can Empagliflozin (Jardiance) be used to treat gout?

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Last updated: March 23, 2025 • View editorial policy

From the Guidelines

Jardiance (empagliflozin) is not recommended for treating gout, as it is primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes and reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in adults with heart failure or chronic kidney disease. For gout treatment, medications like allopurinol, febuxostat, colchicine, or NSAIDs are typically prescribed instead, as they directly affect uric acid levels or inflammation associated with gout 1, 2, 3, 4. While Jardiance works by helping the kidneys remove excess sugar from the bloodstream through urine, it doesn't have a significant effect on uric acid levels or inflammation associated with gout. Some studies suggest SGLT2 inhibitors like Jardiance might have minor effects on uric acid levels, but this is not significant enough to make it a treatment option for gout. Key considerations for gout treatment include:

  • Using colchicine, NSAIDs, and corticosteroids to relieve symptoms of acute gout attacks, as supported by high-strength evidence 1, 3
  • Using urate-lowering therapy with allopurinol or febuxostat to decrease serum urate levels and reduce the risk for acute gout attacks, as supported by high-strength evidence 1, 4
  • Using prophylactic colchicine or NSAIDs for more than 8 weeks to reduce the risk for acute gout attacks in patients initiating urate-lowering therapy, as supported by high-strength evidence 1, 4 If you're experiencing gout symptoms, you should consult with your healthcare provider for appropriate medication specifically designed to treat gout by either reducing uric acid production or improving its elimination from the body.

From the Research

Gout Treatment Options

The provided studies discuss various treatment options for gout, including urate-lowering therapy and anti-inflammatory medications. However, none of the studies mention Empagliflozin (Jardiance) as a treatment for gout.

Empagliflozin (Jardiance) and Gout

  • There is no evidence in the provided studies to suggest that Empagliflozin (Jardiance) is used to treat gout 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
  • The studies focus on traditional gout treatments such as allopurinol, febuxostat, colchicine, and pegloticase, but do not mention Empagliflozin (Jardiance) as a potential treatment option.

Traditional Gout Treatments

  • The studies discuss the efficacy and safety of various gout medications, including allopurinol, febuxostat, and pegloticase 6, 7, 8, 9.
  • These medications are used to lower serum uric acid levels and prevent gout attacks, but Empagliflozin (Jardiance) is not mentioned as a treatment for gout in any of the studies.

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.