Jardiance (Empagliflozin) Side Effects
Dehydration – the drug may cause some patients lose body water as well as salt. So be on the lookout for signs and symptoms of dehydration such as dizziness, weakness and feeling faint. One is at a greater risk of dehydration if:
- Have low blood pressure
- Taking medicines to lower blood pressure
- Is on a low salt diet
- Have kidney problems
- Aged 65 years and above
Ketoacidosis – it’s a severe condition which may be life-threatening characterized by nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and trouble breathing. It occurs when blood acids called ketones accumulates in the blood. The condition is only treated with insulin. If you develop diabetic ketoacidosis, the medical practitioner may advise you to temporally or permanently stop taking the medication. It may be important to check ketones in the urine regularly.
Urinary tract infections (UTI) – serious UTI can occur in patients on Jardiance and one may be hospitalized. Inform the physician if you detect signs of UTI like burning feeling while urinating, an urge to often urinate, pain in the lower part of the abdomen or blood in the urine
Yeast infection – men can get a yeast infection of the skin surrounding the penis, particularly in uncircumcised men as well as those who have chronic infection. Consult the doctor if you encounter redness, swelling, or itching of the penis, smelly discharge from the penis or rash of the penis. As for women, they are at risk of vaginal yeast infection which is accompanied by vaginal odor, yellowish or white discharge and vaginal itching.
Don’t use this medicine if allergic to it or if you have kidney disease or in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis. Also, if you have kidney disease, discuss with the health care practitioner since the drug can lead to decrease in kidney function
Low blood pressure – the drug can increase the quantity of fluid removed through the urine resulting in low blood pressure which in turn triggers dizziness, more so when rising from a sitting position. To minimize the occurrence of dizziness or fainting, get up slowly from sitting.
This medication can be used in combination therapy; this can cause the blood sugar to decrease to extremely low levels, eventually leading to confusion, cold sweats, pale skin, headache, weakness and fast heart beat. The health practitioner may put you on a low dose of the other drugs you are taking when Jardiance is started. So, it’s important to regularly monitor and record glucose levels
Since there is a high probability of Empagliflozin side effects to occur in certain people with medical conditions, hence, it should be used with caution by:
- Elderly people
- People with kidney issues
- People taking drugs for high blood pressure and have a history of low blood pressure
- Individuals with urinary tract infections frequently
- Individuals with heart disease
- Individuals with a history of genital infections
Doctor’s Recommendation
Follow individualized advice and monitor glucose values regularly to observe any unusual values.
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Disclaimer: Please note that the contents of this community article are strictly for informational purposes and should not be considered as medical advice. This article, and other community articles, are not written or reviewed for medical validity by Canadian Insulin or its staff. All views and opinions expressed by the contributing authors are not endorsed by Canadian Insulin. Always consult a medical professional for medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment.
