Empagliflozin is a medication that treats type 2 diabetes by helping your kidneys remove sugar from your blood through your pee. This decreases your blood sugar. It can also lower your risk of a heart attack, stroke and heart failure. A healthcare provider may recommend changes to your diet and exercise if you take this medication.
Advertisement
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
EMPAGLIFLOZIN (EM pa gli FLOE zin) treats type 2 diabetes. It works by helping your kidneys remove sugar (glucose) from your blood through the urine, which decreases your blood sugar. It may also be used to lower the risk of worsening disease and death caused by kidney disease and heart failure. It works by helping your kidneys remove salt (sodium) from your blood through the urine. This decreases the amount of work the kidneys and heart have to do. Changes to diet and exercise are often combined with this medication.
Advertisement
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.
COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Jardiance
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
Take this medication by mouth with water. Take it as directed on the prescription label at the same time every day. You may take it with or without food. Keep taking it unless your care team tells you to stop.
A special MedGuide will be given to you by the pharmacist with each prescription and refill. Be sure to read this information carefully each time.
Advertisement
Talk to your care team about the use of this medication in children. While it may be prescribed for children as young as 10 years for selected conditions, precautions do apply.
Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.
NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.
This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.
Visit your care team for regular checks on your progress. Tell your care team if your symptoms do not start to get better or if they get worse.
You may need blood work done while you are taking this medication. If you have diabetes, your care team will monitor your HbA1C (A1C). This test shows what your average blood sugar (glucose) level was over the past 2 to 3 months.
This medication may increase the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a serious condition in which high ketone levels make your blood too acidic. Your care team may ask you to check for ketones in your urine or blood while you are taking this medication. If you develop nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, unusual weakness or fatigue, or trouble breathing, stop taking this medication and call your care team right away.
Check with your care team if you have severe diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting, or if you sweat a lot. The loss of too much body fluid may make it dangerous for you to take this medication.
Know the symptoms of low blood sugar and know how to treat it. Always carry a source of quick sugar with you. Examples include hard sugar candy or glucose tablets. Make sure others know that you can choke if you eat or drink if your blood sugar is too low and you are unable to care for yourself. Get medical help at once.
Tell your care team if you have high blood sugar. Your medication dose may change if your body is under stress. Some types of stress that may affect your blood sugar include fever, infection, and surgery.
If you have diabetes, you may get a false-positive result for sugar in your urine while you are taking this medication. Check with your care team.
Advertisement
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Keep out of the reach of children and pets.
Store at room temperature between 20 and 25 degrees C (68 and 77 degrees F). Get rid of any unused medication after the expiration date.
Advertisement
To get rid of medications that are no longer needed or have expired:
NOTE: This sheet is a summary. It may not cover all possible information. If you have questions about this medicine, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.
Advertisement
Copyright ©2025 Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Note: Introduction and Additional Common Questions written and medically approved by Cleveland Clinic professionals.