Jardiance 10 mg

Jardiance is prescribed for defined treatment goals. Adult uses include the following.

• Improving blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes alongside diet and exercise

• Reducing cardiovascular death risk in type 2 diabetes with established cardiovascular disease

• Reducing cardiovascular death and heart failure hospitalisation in adults with heart failure

• Reducing kidney disease progression and related serious outcomes in suitable adults with chronic kidney disease

The recommended dose differs by treatment goal. The 25 mg dose is an option for extra glucose lowering. It is not a routine increase for heart or kidney protection.

Jardiance does not treat diabetic ketoacidosis and is not recommended for blood sugar control in type 1 diabetes. Browse the KwickPharmacy medicine catalogue for related product information. A clinician should assess any change of treatment.

For a suitable patient Jardiance supports these treatment goals.

• Better glucose control as part of a diabetes care plan

• A daily oral treatment option

• Specific heart and kidney risk reduction when clinically indicated

• A low risk of low blood sugar when used alone in adults

Low blood sugar becomes more likely when insulin or a sulfonylurea is also used. Weight loss occurs in some patients but Jardiance is not a weight loss medicine. Results depend on the condition being treated and the overall care plan. Continue the recommended food and activity plan alongside treatment.

The kidneys filter glucose from the blood and normally return most of it to the circulation. Empagliflozin blocks the SGLT2 protein involved in this process. More glucose then leaves the body through urine. This helps lower blood sugar without directly increasing insulin release.

Some salt and water also leave through urine. This explains why urination increases in some people. The medicine also has effects on kidney filtration and fluid balance that contribute to its heart and kidney benefits.

Blood sugar readings and HbA1c help assess diabetes control. A positive urine glucose result is expected during treatment and is not a suitable way to judge whether the medicine is working.

The usual starting dose is 10 mg once daily. For additional blood sugar control a clinician can increase the dose to 25 mg once daily in someone tolerating treatment. The recommended dose for heart failure and chronic kidney disease is 10 mg once daily.

Take the tablet in the morning with or without food. Swallow it with water. Follow the prescribed strength rather than choosing a dose from the pack name. Do not combine the 10 mg and 25 mg tablets or exceed the prescribed dose.

Kidney function and hydration need assessment before treatment and during follow up. The reason for treatment affects kidney eligibility. Your clinician also reviews blood pressure and other medicines. Follow any fluid restriction given for heart or kidney disease.

If a dose is missed follow the supplied leaflet. Take it when remembered unless the next dose is nearly due. Skip it when the next dose is close. Never double a dose. Seek medical advice after taking more than prescribed.

Ask for a sick day plan. Vomiting or diarrhoea with dehydration and inability to eat or drink require prompt advice and temporary interruption. Before surgery or prolonged fasting the prescriber normally arranges a pause of at least three days. Restart only when clinically stable and eating again as instructed. Do not stop prescribed insulin yourself.

Common Side Effects: Genital yeast infections and urinary tract infections occur during treatment. Symptoms include genital itching or burning when passing urine. Some people pass urine more often or feel thirsty. Tell your clinician about troublesome symptoms. Keep the genital area clean and dry. Follow your agreed fluid plan rather than drinking beyond a prescribed restriction. Low blood sugar is more likely with insulin or sulfonylureas.

Serious Side Effects: Stop Jardiance and obtain urgent medical help for nausea with vomiting and abdominal pain or difficult breathing. Unusual exhaustion also needs assessment. These are warning signs of ketoacidosis which occurs even without very high blood sugar. Get urgent help for severe dehydration or fainting. Fever with back pain or painful urination needs prompt assessment for a serious urinary infection. Genital or perineal pain with swelling and fever requires emergency assessment. Stop treatment and get emergency help for breathing difficulty or swelling of the face or throat.

Do not take Jardiance if you have a serious allergy to empagliflozin or a tablet ingredient. It is not a treatment for diabetic ketoacidosis. Discuss the following before starting.

• Type 1 diabetes

• Dialysis or advanced kidney disease

• Current dehydration or very low blood pressure

• Pregnancy or plans for pregnancy

• Breastfeeding

• Recurrent genital or urinary infections

• Previous ketoacidosis or a very low carbohydrate diet

• Foot ulcers or circulation problems

Empagliflozin is not recommended during breastfeeding or in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Contact the prescriber promptly if pregnancy occurs. Older adults and people taking water tablets need particular attention to hydration and blood pressure.

Inspect your feet regularly and report new ulcers or infections. Give the clinician your full medical history so the treatment decision reflects more than a single blood sugar reading.

Give your prescriber a complete list of medicines and supplements. Important combinations include the following.

• Insulin and sulfonylureas which increase the risk of low blood sugar

• Diuretics which add to fluid loss and low blood pressure

• Lithium which needs closer blood level monitoring

• Other SGLT2 inhibitors which should not be duplicated without specialist instructions

The clinician decides whether another medicine needs adjustment. Do not reduce insulin yourself because this increases ketoacidosis risk. Discuss alcohol use and avoid excessive drinking. Tell staff that you take empagliflozin before urine testing or planned procedures. Urine glucose remains positive because of the medicine's action.

• Follow the storage conditions printed on the carton

• Keep tablets in the original packaging

• Protect the pack from excessive heat and moisture

• Keep it out of sight and reach of children

• Check the expiry date before taking a tablet

• Do not use tablets from damaged packaging

• Return unwanted medicine to a pharmacy for suitable disposal

Retain the leaflet and batch details. Read KwickPharmacy's medicine policy for information about product checks and responsible medicine use.