Jardiance’s Side Effects: What to Know

Jardiance is a brand-name prescription drug. It’s a type of medication called a sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor. And it contains the active drug empagliflozin. Jardiance comes as an oral tablet.

Jardiance is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to:

• Decrease the risk of death related to cardiovascular disease or the risk of hospitalization for heart failure. It’s approved for this purpose in adults with heart failure.
• Decrease the risk of death related to cardiovascular disease in adults with both type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
• Improve blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. It’s approved for this purpose in combination with diet and exercise.

Similar to other drugs, Jardiance may cause side effects. Read below for information about possible side effects, including common, mild, and serious ones. Jardiance is typically taken long term.

For a general overview of Jardiance, including details about its uses, see this article.

If you’d like to take Jardiance, search here to find a healthcare professional who might prescribe it.

Some of Jardiance’s side effects may be more common than others. These side effects may last only a few days to weeks. However, some side effects may last longer or become severe or bothersome. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have concerns about any side effects with Jardiance.

In Jardiance’s clinical studies, these were some side effects that occurred more often:

• genital yeast infection*
• urinary tract infection (UTI)*
• low blood sugar level
• increased urges to urinate
• increased urine production

* For more information about this side effect, see “Jardiance: Side effects explained” below.

Jardiance can cause mild side effects, which are listed below. However, this list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects. To learn more about Jardiance’s side effects, view the drug’s prescribing information.

Jardiance’s mild side effects include:

• mild genital yeast infection*
• mild urinary tract infection (UTI)*
• increased urges to urinate
• increased urine production
• joint pain*

The side effects listed above may last only a few days to weeks. However, some side effects may last longer or become severe or bothersome. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have concerns about side effects with Jardiance.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking Jardiance and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.

* For more information about this side effect, see “Jardiance: Side effects explained” below.

It’s possible to have serious side effects with Jardiance. Serious side effects are listed below, but this list may not include all possibilities. To learn more about Jardiance’s side effects, view the drug’s prescribing information.

Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects with Jardiance. However, if you think you’re having a medical emergency or life threatening side effects, call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects of Jardiance and their possible symptoms include:

• Dehydration leading to injury to the kidneys. Symptoms can include:
  • producing less urine than usual
  • feeling faint, dizzy, or lightheaded, especially when standing up
  • fatigue
  • swelling in the feet or lower legs
  • low blood pressure
• Low blood sugar level, which can happen when Jardiance is taken with other drugs that decrease blood sugar. Symptoms can include:
  • headache
  • irritability or confusion
  • dizziness or sleepiness
  • hunger
  • jitteriness or shakiness
  • sweating
  • rapid heart rate
  • weakness
• Diabetic ketoacidosis (a condition that can happen when there’s a high amount of ketones in your blood or urine). Symptoms can include:
  • nausea and vomiting
  • abdominal pain
  • extreme tiredness
  • trouble breathing
• Serious urinary tract infection (UTI).*
• Serious genital yeast infection.*
• Perineum infection called necrotizing fasciitis or Fournier’s gangrene (a serious infection that damages tissue under the skin in the area between the genitals and anus).*
• Allergic reaction.†

* For more information about this side effect, see “Jardiance: Side effects explained” below.
† An allergic reaction is possible after taking Jardiance. However, this side effect was not reported in clinical studies of the drug.

Here are some common questions about the drug’s side effects and answers to them. Talk with your doctor if you have other questions about this drug.

No, that’s not expected.

The 10-mg and 25-mg strengths of Jardiance have the same uses. And the drug’s side effects are expected to be the same, regardless of which strength you take.

That said, some side effects may occur more often with certain strengths of Jardiance. For instance, in clinical studies, genital yeast infections in females* and upper respiratory infections were more common with 25-mg doses. However, genital yeast infections in males* and nausea were more common with 10-mg doses.

If you have concerns about side effects given the strength of Jardiance your doctor prescribes, talk with them about this.

* Sex and gender exist on spectrums. In this article, use of the terms “male” and “female” refers to sex assigned at birth.

Different people may consider different side effects of a drug to be its “worst” ones.

That said, Jardiance may cause some serious side effects. Some of the most serious side effects of this drug include:

• perineum infection (infection in the area between the genitals and anus), which may cause:
  • fever, weakness, and tiredness, as well as discoloration, pain, or swelling in the perineum
• serious urinary tract infection (UTI), which may cause:
  • increased need to urinate, burning with urination, abdominal pain, bloody urine, fever, back pain, nausea, and vomiting
• allergic reaction, which may cause:
  • swelling under the skin in your face, lips, throat, and other areas, trouble swallowing or breathing, and hives

To learn more about Jardiance’s serious side effects, view the drug’s prescribing information. If you have concerns about serious side effects, talk with your doctor. Also, see the “Jardiance: Serious side effects” section above.

No, it doesn’t. Eye problems aren’t a known side effect of Jardiance. These problems weren’t reported in clinical studies of the drug.

It’s possible for diabetes to affect eye health, and Jardiance is used to treat type 2 diabetes. So, certain eye issues may occur because of your condition.

If you have changes in vision or problems with your eyes, tell your doctor. They can recommend whether you need an eye exam.

Probably not. Itching and rash weren’t reported as side effects during clinical studies of Jardiance.

However, there have been reports of these symptoms in people taking Jardiance after it was approved for use. It’s unclear how often itching and rash happen, though, or if Jardiance is the cause.

Keep in mind that itching can also happen with a serious allergic reaction. Additionally, itchiness and rash in the genital area could indicate a yeast infection. And these conditions are both possible with Jardiance.

So, be sure to tell your doctor if you have a rash or itchiness while taking Jardiance. Your doctor can recommend the best way to manage your symptoms.

Jardiance may cause weight loss. In clinical studies, people who took Jardiance had more weight loss compared with people who took a placebo. (A placebo is a treatment with no active drug.)

Keep in mind that doctors prescribe Jardiance with diet and exercise for type 2 diabetes. So, the weight loss seen in the studies was probably due to a combination of Jardiance, diet, and exercise.

If you have questions about weight loss while taking Jardiance, ask your doctor. They’ll likely discuss healthy ways to manage your weight.

If you have type 2 diabetes, your doctor may prescribe Jardiance in combination with metformin. If you take the drugs together, you could develop side effects from either one.

Common and serious side effects of Jardiance are described above and below in this article. To learn about side effects of metformin, see this article. These two drugs are available as a combination medication called Synjardy and Synjardy XR. To read about side effects of these medications, see this article.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to learn more about side effects that you may expect with Jardiance and metformin.

Is constipation a side effect of Jardiance?

It’s not likely to be. Constipation wasn’t reported as a side effect in clinical studies of Jardiance.

However, there have been reports of constipation in people taking Jardiance after it was approved for use. It’s unclear how often constipation happens, though, or if Jardiance causes it.

If you have constipation while taking Jardiance, tell your doctor. They can suggest ways to help ease your symptoms. Your doctor may recommend changes in your diet, such as those described here.

Here’s detailed information about some of Jardiance’s side effects.

Jardiance can cause a serious and life threatening infection of the perineum known as necrotizing fasciitis or Fournier’s gangrene. The perineum is the area between the genitals and anus. This infection can affect both males and females taking Jardiance.*

With a perineum infection, you may have:

• fever
• weakness
• tiredness
• discoloration, pain, or swelling in the perineum

Fournier’s gangrene may be more likely in people with:

• diabetes, which Jardiance may be used to treat
• obesity
• a history of alcohol misuse
• problems with the immune system, such as HIV

* Sex and gender exist on spectrums. In this article, use of the terms “male” and “female” refers to sex assigned at birth.

If you have certain symptoms of perineum infection, you should call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. These symptoms are:

• fever greater than 100.4°F (38°C)
• weakness
• malaise (feeling ill or unwell)
• redness, pain, or swelling in the area between and around your anus and genitals

If you have concerns about Fournier’s gangrene with Jardiance, talk with your doctor.

In clinical studies, some people taking Jardiance had joint pain as a side effect. Joint pain was also reported in some people taking a placebo. (A placebo is a treatment with no active drug.)

Tell your doctor if you have new or worsening joint pain while taking Jardiance. They may recommend that you stop taking Jardiance and try another medication for your condition. They may also suggest ways to help ease your discomfort.

Jardiance can cause yeast infections in the genital area of both males and females.* This is one of the more common side effects of this drug.

Symptoms in females can include:

• vaginal odor
• white or yellow vaginal discharge that looks clumpy — similar to cottage cheese
• itchiness in the vaginal area

Symptoms in males affect the penis and can include:

• swelling of the skin around the tip of the penis
• discoloration, swelling, pain, rash, or itchiness in the affected area
• foul-smelling discharge

* Sex and gender exist on spectrums. In this article, use of the terms “male” and “female” refers to sex assigned at birth.

Tell your doctor if you have symptoms of a genital yeast infection. They may suggest using an over-the-counter (OTC) antifungal cream to treat it. Or they may prescribe a medication for it.

If you’ve tried using OTC antifungal medications without relief, tell your doctor right away. However, it’s best to check with your doctor before you try any OTC medications.

In clinical studies, Jardiance caused serious urinary tract infections (UTIs), some of which led to hospitalization.

UTIs are one of the more common side effects of Jardiance. Symptoms of a serious UTI include:

• increased need to urinate
• burning with urination
• bloody urine
• fever

Tell your doctor right away if you develop symptoms of a UTI. They’ll likely check your urine to see if you need an antibiotic to treat the infection.

Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Jardiance. This drug may not be the right treatment option for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health.

The conditions and factors to consider include those described below.

Chronic genital yeast infections. Jardiance can cause yeast infections in the genitals. If you have chronic (long lasting) or recurring (repeating) genital yeast infections, you may have an increased risk for this side effect. Additionally, you might be at risk of serious yeast infections. Tell your doctor if you’ve had genital yeast infections in the past. They’ll advise if Jardiance is the right treatment option for you.

Chronic urinary tract infections. Jardiance can cause urinary tract infections (UTIs). If you have a history of UTIs or problems with urination, you may have an increased risk of this side effect. Tell your doctor if you’ve had UTIs in the past. They can recommend if it’s safe for you to take Jardiance.

Low blood pressure. Jardiance can cause low blood pressure. Tell your doctor if you’ve had problems with low blood pressure in the past or if you take medication for your blood pressure. Your doctor can recommend if it’s safe for you to take Jardiance.

Low blood sugar. Taking Jardiance with other type 2 diabetes drugs can cause a low blood sugar level. Make sure your doctor knows about all of the drugs you’re taking, including those for type 2 diabetes. They may suggest checking your blood sugar level more often while you’re taking Jardiance.

Kidney problems. Jardiance can cause kidney damage. If you have kidney problems, including chronic kidney disease, or receive dialysis, let your doctor know before you take Jardiance. They may suggest a different treatment option for you.

Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Jardiance or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Jardiance. Ask your doctor what other medications may be better options for you.

Certain side effects of Jardiance may be worsened if you drink alcohol while taking the drug.

These side effects include:

• increased risk for a perineum infection called Fournier’s gangrene*
• passing more urine than usual
• diabetic ketoacidosis (a condition that can happen when there’s a high amount of ketones in your blood or urine)

If you drink alcohol, ask your doctor how much alcohol is safe for you while you’re taking Jardiance.

* Perineum infections affect the area between the anus and genitals. To learn more about this condition, see the “Jardiance: Side effects explained” section above.

Jardiance is not safe to take while pregnant. This drug can harm a fetus, so it should not be taken during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.

If you plan to become pregnant while taking Jardiance, talk with your doctor as soon as possible. They’ll recommend a treatment option that’s right for you.

Additionally, Jardiance is not recommended if you’re breastfeeding. It can pass into breast milk and cause kidney problems in a breastfed child. Talk with your doctor about the best way to feed your child if you’re taking Jardiance.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to find out more information about Jardiance. If you have questions about the drug’s side effects, your pharmacist or healthcare professional can help answer them for you.

In addition to discussing Jardiance with your doctor, you may find the following articles helpful in learning more.

• Overview of Jardiance. To read an overview of Jardiance, see this article.
• Drug comparison. Learn how Jardiance compares with Farxiga and Invokana. 
• Details about your condition. Learn more about type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular conditions, which Jardiance is used to manage.

Disclaimer: Healthgrades has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.