In this blog post, we will look at Jardiance (Empagliflozin). Jardiance (Empagliflozin) belongs to a class of drugs called sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. It treats adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).
What is Jardiance (empagliflozin)?
Jardiance (empagliflozin) is a type 2 diabetes medication that helps lower blood sugar by increasing the amount of insulin your body makes and making your kidneys more sensitive to insulin.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Jardiance to treat adults with type 2 diabetes whose blood sugar isn't controlled by diet and exercise alone. It's not approved for children under 18 or pregnant women.
What is empagliflozin (Jardiance) used for?
Empagliflozin (Jardiance) is a medication used to treat type 2 diabetes. The drug's active ingredient, empagliflozin, works by blocking the reabsorption of glucose in the kidneys, and this causes your body to excrete more urine and lowers blood sugar levels.
Empagliflozin is also used to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death in people with type 2 diabetes who have an increased risk for heart disease or other conditions that may lead to death.
Empagliflozin isn't approved for weight loss, but weight loss is a possible side effect of the medication.
How does Jardiance (empagliflozin) work?
Jardiance (empagliflozin) is a medicine used to treat type 2 diabetes. It works by lowering blood sugar levels by causing the kidneys to eliminate excess sugar in the blood. The kidneys release the extra glucose out of the body through the urine. Jardiance also reduces the risk of death caused by severe heart-related events by lowering the body’s blood pressure.
Jardiance increases urination, reducing the body's fluid and blood pressure.
How effective is Jardiance (empagliflozin)?
In clinical studies, Jardiance improved blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. When combined with other diabetes medications such as metformin, insulin, pioglitazone, and glipizide, Jardiance can help you achieve lower blood sugar levels than these medications alone.
Jardiance is effective at lowering both fasting and post-meal blood sugar levels. In a three-year clinical study, Jardiance helped reduce the risk of cardiovascular death by 38 percent in people with both type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Are there any side effects of Jardiance (empagliflozin)?
You may experience a variety of side effects while taking Jardiance (empagliflozin), including:
- Urinary tract infections. You'll have to urinate frequently and may feel the urge to urinate even if you haven't drunk much liquid. You may also notice that your urine is darker than usual, which is caused by excess sugar in the urine. Sometimes, you might have difficulty emptying your bladder, causing urinary frequency or urgency. If you experience these symptoms for over a few weeks, talk to your doctor about what you can do to reduce them.
- Vaginal yeast infections. Yeast infections are caused by an overgrowth of a fungus called Candida albicans, which usually lives in small amounts in your body without causing problems. If you're taking Jardiance (empagliflozin), the drug can quickly decrease blood glucose levels and cause a yeast infection in the vagina (vaginal thrush). This is typically treated with antifungal creams or tablets and oral antibiotics if necessary but will go away on its own with time off from treatment if possible; see your doctor if symptoms persist or worsen after several days
Are there any severe side effects from Jardiance (empagliflozin)?
There are several serious side effects associated with Jardiance (empagliflozin). The most severe of these include:
- Hypotension: This is when your blood pressure drops too low and can cause dizziness, fainting, and even shock
- Kidney damage: If you have chronic kidney disease or other conditions that affect your kidneys, it may be more difficult for them to process the drug properly. If this occurs, it could lead to kidney failure or other severe medical conditions
- Increased low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels: An increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease is associated with taking this medication
Who should not take Jardiance (empagliflozin) or should be cautious about taking it?
If you have a history of heart failure, liver, or kidney problems, your healthcare provider will want to monitor your condition more closely while taking Jardiance (empagliflozin).
It's also not recommended if you have low blood pressure. It's considered contraindicated if you're on dialysis.
The drug isn't recommended for use by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding because its safety hasn't been studied in this population yet.
The same goes for children under 18 years old—there just isn't enough research on Jardiance (empagliflozin) for this age group to make any recommendations about its effectiveness or safety in adolescents and teens with type 2 diabetes mellitus
How do I take it?
If you have type 2 diabetes and are taking Jardiance (empagliflozin), you might wonder: “How do I take it?”
The answer is easy! Jardiance is a tablet taken by mouth once daily. It should be taken in the morning and comes in two strengths: 10 mg and 25 mg. It can be taken with or without food, but it's essential to take Jardiance on time daily. If you have difficulty swallowing, talk with your doctor. They may recommend splitting the dose into two smaller doses throughout the day instead of one large dose.
Is there a generic version of Jardiance (empagliflozin)?
Jardiance is not a generic medication, so there are currently no generic alternatives to Jardiance. A generic drug is usually less expensive than its brand name counterpart and can cost anywhere from 20% to 80% less. However, it contains the same active ingredient and works similarly to its brand-name counterpart.
There is currently a patent granted to Boehringer Ingelheim on Jardiance (empagliflozin), which includes drug exclusivity until Feb. 24, 2025. This means that they have exclusive rights over this particular medicine during this period and may earn more revenue by selling it at a higher price compared with other companies who might want to create their version of the drug after 2025 or before then, if possible under current laws regarding patents (if they exist).
We may see a generic version of Jardiance as early as 2025; however, we cannot be sure when or even if this will happen because drugs can sometimes take longer than expected before they go off patent and become available in cheaper versions called generics or biosimilars depending on whether they have been chemically altered slightly versus being an identical copy of another product with different branding/nameplates printed onto them (such as how insulin products from various manufacturers are often interchangeable).
How much does Jardiance (empagliflozin) cost? Does insurance cover it?
The cost of Jardiance can vary depending on your insurance coverage and the pharmacy you use. Consumers should expect to pay anywhere from $7-10 per pill at their local pharmacy, but the monthly price will likely be significantly higher.
Insurance coverage varies depending on your prescription plan. Some plans may require prior authorization before they’ll cover your medication, so you may have to get approval from them before they cover your prescriptions.
If you don't have insurance or don't want to take advantage of it for this medication, there are other ways to get affordable access without shelling out hundreds of dollars every month:
● AARP/UnitedHealthcare Prescription Savings Club Card: This card gives members discounts on certain medications (including Jardiance) at participating pharmacies when paying cash; these savings are negated if using insurance so check with your pharmacist about whether the savings will be applied before paying with this card (this information is usually available on their website).
● Walmart: The retail giant often has competitive prices for generic drugs like Jardiance (though not all generic drugs are included in this program). Check out our list here!
Conclusion
We hope this article has helped you understand what Jardiance is, how it works, and whether it’s right for you. Talk to your doctor before starting treatment if you have any questions or concerns about taking this medication. Remember that other options are available if your doctor prescribes Jardiance for diabetes management and you don’t feel comfortable with the prescription.
