Jardiamet (Empagliflozin And Metformin Hydrochloride)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Jardiamet Used For?
Jardiamet is a combination diabetes medication that contains two active ingredients working together to help control blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
Primary Uses
Jardiamet is used to lower blood sugar levels in adults and children aged 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes mellitus. It may be used when diet and exercise alone don’t provide adequate blood sugar control, either as a single medicine or combined with other anti-diabetic medicines like sulfonylurea, pioglitazone, insulin, or linagliptin. For people with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, the empagliflozin component can help reduce the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.
How It Works
Jardiamet contains empagliflozin (an SGLT2 inhibitor) and metformin hydrochloride (a biguanide). These two ingredients work together by increasing the amount of glucose expelled in urine and lowering the amount of sugar made by your body.
How to Take Jardiamet
Take Jardiamet exactly as prescribed by your doctor. The medication should be taken consistently at the same times each day for best results.
Dosage Instructions
The usual dose for adults and children aged 10 years and above is one tablet twice a day. Swallow the tablets whole with a full glass of water during or after meals to reduce the chance of stomach upset. Take Jardiamet at about the same time each day to maintain consistent levels and help you remember to take it.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember, then return to your normal schedule. If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. If you’re unsure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist for guidance.
Important: Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose, as this may increase your chance of getting unwanted side effects.
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Genital burning, redness, pain, or discharge
- Passing more urine than normal
- Thirst
- Itchiness
- Loss of appetite
- Loss of taste
- Diarrhea
- Stomach ache
- Feeling sick or nausea
- Vomiting
- Constipation
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Low blood sugar (when used with other diabetes medicines): sweating, weakness, hunger, dizziness, trembling, headache, fast heartbeat
- Urinary tract infection: burning when urinating, cloudy urine, pelvic or mid-back pain
- Dehydration: unusual thirst, light-headedness, dizziness when standing, fainting
- Swelling of penis (uncircumcised men)
- Fournier’s gangrene: pain, tenderness, itching in genital/back passage area with fever
- Allergic reactions: hives, itching, rash, swelling of face/lips/tongue, difficulty breathing
- Diabetic ketoacidosis: rapid weight loss, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, excessive thirst, fast breathing, confusion, sweet breath smell
- Lactic acidosis: feeling cold, weakness, light-headedness, severe nausea, muscle pain, drowsiness, abdominal pain, irregular heartbeat, rapid breathing
Important Warnings
There are several important conditions and situations where Jardiamet should not be used or requires special caution.
Who Should Not Take Jardiamet
Do not use Jardiamet if you: are allergic to empagliflozin, metformin, or any ingredients; have metabolic acidosis, lactic acidosis, or diabetic ketoacidosis; have had diabetic pre-coma; have kidney or liver problems; have severe infection, dehydration, or heart failure; have recently had a heart attack; have severe circulation problems, breathing difficulties, or blood clots in lungs; have significant blood loss or gangrene; have pancreas inflammation; or drink excessive alcohol. Children under 10 years should not take this medication.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have: type 1 diabetes; are sick with diarrhea, fever, or unable to eat/drink; have serious kidney or urinary tract infections; have heart problems, low blood pressure history, or are 75+ years old; are 85+ years old (should not start if over 85). Also inform your doctor about planned surgeries or X-rays requiring contrast dye injection.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Do not take Jardiamet if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, as it may affect your developing baby. Do not breastfeed while taking this medicine, as metformin passes into breast milk and could affect your baby. It’s unknown whether empagliflozin passes into breast milk.
Accidental Overdose Risk: Discard any other medicines containing metformin or empagliflozin to prevent accidental overdose. Having multiple metformin-containing medicines can lead to serious lactic acidosis.
Drug Interactions
Several medications can affect how Jardiamet works or increase your risk of side effects. Always tell your healthcare providers about all medicines you’re taking.
- Rifampicin (antibiotic for tuberculosis)
- Cimetidine (for reflux and ulcers)
- Corticosteroids (for inflammation, asthma, arthritis)
- Blood pressure medications (ACE inhibitors, ARBs, calcium channel blockers, beta blockers)
- Blood thinners like warfarin
- Diuretics (water pills)
- Asthma medications (salbutamol, terbutaline)
- NSAIDs (aspirin, ibuprofen, diclofenac, etc.)
- Iodinated contrast agents for X-rays
- Alcohol-containing medicines
- Tetracosactrin (for multiple sclerosis, seizures)
- Danazol (for endometriosis)
- Chlorpromazine (for schizophrenia)
- Lithium (for mood disorders)
- HIV/hepatitis C medications (dolutegravir, daclatasvir)
- Cancer medications (crizotinib, olaparib, vandetanib)
- Seizure/glaucoma medications (topiramate, zonisamide, acetazolamide)
Alcohol & Driving
Both alcohol consumption and driving require special attention while taking Jardiamet due to potential effects on blood sugar and alertness.
Alcohol
Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. Alcohol can increase the risk of your blood glucose becoming too low, which can be dangerous.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful before driving or using machines until you know how Jardiamet affects you. The medication may cause dizziness, especially when taken with other diabetes medicines, due to increased risk of low blood sugar. Low blood glucose can slow reaction time and affect your ability to drive safely.
Storage
Keep tablets in their original pack until time to take them. Store in a cool, dry place where temperature stays below 30°C. Don’t store in bathrooms, near sinks, in cars, or on window sills, as heat and dampness can damage the medicine. Keep out of reach of children in a locked cupboard at least 1.5 meters above ground.
Overdose Information
If you think you’ve taken too much Jardiamet, seek urgent medical attention immediately. Call the Poisons Information Centre at 13 11 26, contact your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department, even if you feel fine. Taking too much metformin can cause serious lactic acidosis.
Frequently Asked Questions
The medication works by controlling blood sugar levels through increasing glucose expelled in urine and reducing sugar production by your body. You should check your blood glucose regularly to monitor if your diabetes is being controlled properly, as recommended by your doctor.
Yes, you should take Jardiamet during or after meals with a full glass of water. This helps reduce the chance of stomach upset.
Do not stop taking Jardiamet suddenly or change the dosage without checking with your doctor first. Your blood glucose control may be affected if you stop the medication.
You should tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. Alcohol can increase the risk of your blood glucose becoming too low, which can be dangerous. Your doctor can advise you on safe alcohol consumption.
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember, then return to your normal schedule. If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at the regular time. Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.
Jardiamet can be used in children aged 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes. Do not give this medicine to children under 10 years of age, as safety and effectiveness have not been established in younger children.
Tell your doctor if you become ill, dehydrated, or experience stress, injury, fever, or infection. These conditions can make your blood glucose difficult to control and may increase your risk of serious side effects. Your doctor may temporarily replace Jardiamet with insulin during illness.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.