Jardiance (Empagliflozin)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Jardiance Used For?
Jardiance contains empagliflozin, which belongs to a group of medicines called SGLT2 inhibitors. It helps manage several serious health conditions by working on your kidneys to remove excess sugar and salt from your body.
Primary Uses
Jardiance is used to lower blood sugar levels in adults and children aged 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes when diet and exercise alone aren’t enough. It can be used alone or combined with other diabetes medicines like metformin, sulfonylurea medicines, pioglitazone, insulin, or DPP-4 inhibitors. For adults with type 2 diabetes and heart disease, it also helps reduce the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. Additionally, it’s used with other medicines to treat heart failure and slow kidney disease progression in adults with or without diabetes.
How It Works
Jardiance works by blocking a protein in your kidneys called SGLT2, which removes blood sugar through your urine. This reduces sugar levels in your blood. It also reduces the amount of salt your kidneys reabsorb, helping to reduce strain on your heart and may protect your kidneys from further damage caused by high blood sugar levels.
How to Take Jardiance
Your doctor will determine the right dose for you based on your condition and response to treatment. Take Jardiance exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider.
Dosage Instructions
For type 2 diabetes: Adults and children aged 10 years and older typically start with one 10 mg tablet once daily. Your doctor may increase this to 25 mg once daily if your blood sugar levels remain high. For heart failure and kidney disease: The recommended dose is one 10 mg tablet once daily. Take it at the same time each day, with or without food. Swallow the tablet whole with a full glass of water.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If you miss a dose and it’s almost time for your next dose (less than 12 hours), skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, then return to your normal schedule. Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose, as this may increase your risk of side effects.
Important: Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose – this may increase your chance of getting unwanted side effects.
Available Tablet Strengths
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
- Constipation
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Low blood sugar (when used with other diabetes medicines) – sweating, weakness, hunger, dizziness, trembling, headache, confusion, fast heartbeat
- Dehydration – dry mouth, unusual thirst, light-headedness, fainting, urinating less often
- Urinary tract infection – burning when urinating, cloudy urine, pelvic or mid-back pain
- Swelling of the penis (uncircumcised men)
- Fournier’s gangrene – pain, tenderness, itching in genital area, fever, feeling unwell
- Allergic reactions – swelling of face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat, difficulty swallowing or breathing, severe skin rash
- Ketoacidosis – rapid weight loss, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, excessive thirst, fast breathing, confusion, unusual sleepiness, sweet breath smell
Important Warnings
Before taking Jardiance, it’s crucial to discuss your medical history and current health conditions with your doctor to ensure this medication is safe for you.
Who Should Not Take Jardiance
Do not take Jardiance if you are allergic to empagliflozin or any ingredients in the medication. Do not give this medicine to children under 10 years old. Children aged 10 years and older should not use Jardiance if they have poorly functioning kidneys. Adults over 85 years should not start taking Jardiance for type 2 diabetes.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have: type 1 diabetes, ketoacidosis, kidney problems, galactosaemia, frequent genital or urinary tract infections, illnesses causing dehydration, increased urine loss, heart problems, history of low blood pressure, or if you’re 75 years or older (increased dehydration risk). Also inform them about all other medicines you’re taking and any allergies to medicines, foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Do not take Jardiance if you are pregnant, as it may affect your developing baby. Do not breastfeed while taking Jardiance, as it’s unknown if the medication passes into breast milk and could potentially affect your baby.
Drug Interactions
Jardiance can interact with other medications, potentially affecting how they work or increasing your risk of side effects. Always inform your healthcare providers about all medications you’re taking.
- Diuretic medicines (water pills) – can increase risk of low blood pressure and dehydration
- Lithium – Jardiance may lower lithium levels in blood, requiring more frequent monitoring
Alcohol & Driving
Be cautious with alcohol consumption and driving while taking Jardiance, as it can affect your blood sugar levels and reaction time.
Alcohol
Drinking alcohol can increase the risk of your blood sugar levels becoming too low. Talk to your doctor about alcohol consumption while taking Jardiance.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful before driving or using machines until you know how Jardiance affects you. When taken with other diabetes medicines, it can increase the risk of low blood sugar, which can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, tiredness, and slow reaction time, affecting your ability to drive safely.
Storage
Keep Jardiance tablets in their original pack until it’s time to take them. Store in a cool, dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C. Keep away from moisture, heat, and sunlight – don’t store in bathrooms, near sinks, in cars, or on window sills. Keep out of reach of children. Take expired or unwanted medicine to any pharmacy for safe disposal.
Overdose Information
If you think you’ve taken too much Jardiance, 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 don’t feel unwell or show signs of poisoning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Jardiance begins working by removing sugar through your urine, but your doctor will monitor your blood sugar levels regularly to determine how well it’s controlling your diabetes. The full effects may take some time to establish.
Yes, it doesn’t matter if you take Jardiance before or after food. Take it at the same time each day with a full glass of water for best results.
If it’s almost time for your next dose (less than 12 hours), skip the missed dose. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember. Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.
Drinking alcohol can increase the risk of your blood sugar levels becoming too low. Talk to your doctor about alcohol consumption while taking Jardiance.
Be careful with activities that can lower your blood sugar levels, such as drinking alcohol, not eating enough, or doing unexpected or vigorous exercise.
Jardiance can be used in children aged 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes, but should not be used in children under 10 or those aged 10+ with poorly functioning kidneys.
Talk to your doctor if you’re about to have surgery. They will provide instructions on when to stop and restart Jardiance, as surgery can increase the risk of a serious side effect called ketoacidosis.
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.