Another Name for Jardiance is Empagliflozin
Jardiance is the brand name for the medication empagliflozin, which is an orally-active inhibitor of the sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2). 1
Medication Classification and Chemical Properties
- Empagliflozin (Jardiance) belongs to the class of medications known as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors 1, 2
- The chemical name of empagliflozin is D-Glucitol,1,5-anhydro-1-C-[4-chloro-3-[[4-[[(3S)-tetrahydro-3-furanyl]oxy]phenyl]methyl]phenyl]-, (1S) with a molecular formula of C23H27ClO7 and molecular weight of 450.91 1
- Empagliflozin is available as film-coated tablets containing either 10 mg or 25 mg of the active ingredient 1
Mechanism of Action
- Empagliflozin works by inhibiting SGLT2, which is the predominant transporter responsible for reabsorption of glucose from the glomerular filtrate back into circulation 1
- By inhibiting SGLT2, empagliflozin reduces renal reabsorption of filtered glucose and lowers the renal threshold for glucose, thereby increasing urinary glucose excretion 1, 2
- This mechanism is insulin-independent, which explains why empagliflozin carries a low inherent risk of hypoglycemia when used as monotherapy 3
Clinical Applications
- Empagliflozin (Jardiance) was initially developed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus 4, 5
- It has since been approved for reducing the risk of cardiovascular death in adults with type 2 diabetes who have established cardiovascular disease 1, 5
- More recently, empagliflozin has been approved for the treatment of symptomatic chronic heart failure, regardless of left ventricular ejection fraction 4, 5
- The EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial demonstrated that empagliflozin reduced the composite outcome of myocardial infarction, stroke, and cardiovascular death in patients with type 2 diabetes and existing cardiovascular disease 5
- The EMPEROR-Reduced study showed that empagliflozin reduced the risk of hospitalization for heart failure complications in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction 6, 5
Common Pitfalls and Caveats
- Empagliflozin is not indicated for patients with type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis 1
- The medication should be used with caution in elderly patients (≥75 years) due to increased risk of volume depletion-related adverse reactions and urinary tract infections 1
- The glucose-lowering efficacy of empagliflozin diminishes in patients with renal impairment 1, 2
- Common side effects include genital mycotic infections, particularly in women, and urinary tract infections 1, 7
- Patients should be advised to seek medical attention if they experience symptoms of dehydration, especially during acute illness, fasting, or excessive heat exposure 1