Can Jardiance (empagliflozin) be used for heart failure in people without diabetes?
Yes. Jardiance (empagliflozin) is used to treat certain types of heart failure even when the patient does not have diabetes, because its benefit comes from effects on the heart and kidneys rather than from lowering blood sugar. Clinical evidence supporting this use includes trials in people with heart failure regardless of diabetes status. [1][2]
Which heart failure types does Jardiance treat?
Jardiance is used for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and heart failure with preserved or mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFpEF/HFmrEF), including to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and to improve outcomes based on the specific trial populations and guideline-based indications. [1][2]
What benefits should a patient expect without diabetes?
In heart failure populations, empagliflozin has been shown to reduce important outcomes such as cardiovascular death and worsening heart failure events. These benefits were observed in the studied heart failure groups, not limited to people with diabetes. [1][2]
How does it work if it’s not being used for blood sugar?
Empagliflozin is a sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor. In heart failure, the benefit is thought to involve multiple mechanisms beyond glucose lowering, including effects on kidney function and fluid balance and other downstream cardiovascular effects seen in clinical trials. [1][2]
Who is the right candidate (and what factors matter)?
Whether Jardiance is appropriate depends on the patient’s heart failure diagnosis (HFrEF vs HFpEF/HFmrEF), kidney function, current heart failure regimen, blood pressure, and overall risk of side effects. Kidney function is especially important because SGLT2 inhibitors are dosed and used based on renal considerations. [1]
What side effects do patients ask about?
Common concerns with Jardiance include genital yeast infections, urinary tract–related symptoms, dehydration/low blood pressure symptoms (especially in people also taking diuretics or with low baseline blood pressure), and rare but serious complications that require prompt action. Patients should also understand the sick-day guidance (what to do during vomiting, diarrhea, or poor oral intake) because SGLT2 inhibitors can increase risk for certain metabolic complications in those settings. [1]
Are there risks or situations where it should be avoided?
Clinicians often consider caution or avoidance in situations such as significantly reduced kidney function (depending on indication), history of certain genital infections with poor hygiene tolerance, very low blood pressure, or circumstances that raise dehydration risk. The prescribing information includes safety details and monitoring guidance. [1]
How does Jardiance compare with other SGLT2 inhibitors for non-diabetic heart failure?
Other SGLT2 inhibitors (same drug class) have also shown heart-failure benefits in trials. The exact choice can depend on which specific guideline recommendation applies, trial population fit (HFrEF vs HFpEF/HFmrEF), kidney function thresholds used in practice, formulary/coverage, and tolerability for side effects. (Comparative head-to-head outcome data are limited; choice is usually driven by evidence, labeling, and patient factors.) [1][2]
How is Jardiance typically used (dose) for heart failure?
Jardiance is taken orally once daily. The dose for heart failure depends on the labeled dosing and the patient’s kidney function and overall clinical context. [1]
Sources
- https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/index.cfm (FDA label and prescribing information for Jardiance, empagliflozin)
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ (Key heart failure trials supporting empagliflozin benefits, including benefits across diabetes status)