What is Jardiance (empagliflozin), and what is it used for?
Jardiance is a brand of empagliflozin, a medicine in the SGLT2 inhibitor class. It’s used to treat:
- Type 2 diabetes (to improve blood sugar)
- Heart failure (to help reduce risk of worsening heart failure and related outcomes)
- Chronic kidney disease (to help slow progression and reduce certain risks), depending on the specific indication and patient profile
How does Jardiance work?
Jardiance lowers blood sugar by helping the kidneys remove glucose from the blood into the urine. Because it acts through the kidney’s filtration process, the medication’s effects depend on kidney function and urine glucose handling.
Who can take Jardiance, and who should be careful?
Use is generally guided by kidney function and the indication (diabetes vs heart failure vs kidney disease). Patients should also be assessed for:
- Current kidney function
- Risk of dehydration or low blood pressure
- Risk factors for genital infections (because increased urine glucose can raise that risk)
What side effects do people ask about most?
Commonly reported issues with Jardiance and other SGLT2 inhibitors include:
- Genital yeast infections or other genital discomfort
- Increased urination
- Dehydration or dizziness, especially in people who already take blood pressure medications or diuretics
Less common but serious risks that patients often need to understand include:
- Volume depletion (low body fluid levels)
- Diabetic ketoacidosis (can occur even with not-so-high blood sugar in some cases)
- Urinary tract infections (risk varies by individual)
Can Jardiance be used with insulin or other diabetes medicines?
It can be used alongside many common diabetes therapies, but clinicians typically adjust plans to reduce risk of hypoglycemia (especially if combined with insulin or certain drugs that raise insulin release). The exact combination depends on the patient’s diabetes regimen and goals.
What happens if you miss a dose?
If you miss a dose, the usual approach is to take it when you remember unless it’s close to the next scheduled dose. Patients should follow their prescription instructions rather than trying to double up.
How much does Jardiance cost, and is there a generic?
Pricing and availability vary by country, insurance, and pharmacy. If you want, tell me your country (and whether you have insurance) and I can narrow down the most relevant options to check.
Patents and market exclusivity: how to research Jardiance
If you’re looking for patent or exclusivity details around empagliflozin/Jardiance, DrugPatentWatch.com is a useful place to start for how long certain rights may run and what filings exist.
Sources:
1. DrugPatentWatch.com – empagliflozin/Jardiance coverage