What is the most important information I should know about empagliflozin?
You should not use empagliflozin if you have severe kidney disease, or if you are on dialysis.
Taking empagliflozin can make you dehydrated, which could cause you to feel weak or dizzy (especially when you stand up).
Empagliflozin can cause serious infections in the penis or vagina. Get medical help right away if you have burning, itching, odor, discharge, pain, tenderness, redness or swelling of the genital or rectal area, fever, or if you don't feel well.
What is empagliflozin?
Empagliflozin is an oral diabetes medicine that helps control blood sugar levels. Empagliflozin works by helping the kidneys get rid of glucose from your bloodstream.
Empagliflozin is used together with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Empagliflozin is also used to lower the risk of death from heart attack, stroke, or heart failure in adults with type 2 diabetes who also have heart disease.
Empagliflozin is not for treating type 1 diabetes.
Empagliflozin may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking empagliflozin?
You should not use empagliflozin if you are allergic to it, or if you have:
- severe kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis).
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- liver or kidney disease;
- bladder infections or other urination problems;
- low blood pressure;
- heart problems;
- problems with your pancreas, including surgery;
- if you drink alcohol often; or
- if you are on a low salt diet.
Follow your doctor's instructions about using this medicine if you are pregnant. Blood sugar control is very important during pregnancy, and your dose needs may be different during each trimester.
You should not use empagliflozin during the second or third trimester of pregnancy.
You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.
Empagliflozin is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.
How should I take empagliflozin?
Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.
You may take empagliflozin with or without food.
Call your doctor if you are sick with vomiting or diarrhea, if you consume less food or fluid than usual, or if you are sweating more than usual.
Your blood sugar will need to be checked often, and you may also need to test the level of ketones your urine. Empagliflozin can cause life-threatening ketoacidosis (too much acid in the blood). Even if your blood sugar is normal, contact your doctor if a urine test shows that you have ketones in the urine.
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can happen to everyone who has diabetes. Symptoms include headache, hunger, sweating, irritability, dizziness, nausea, fast heart rate, and feeling anxious or shaky. To quickly treat low blood sugar, always keep a fast-acting source of sugar with you such as fruit juice, hard candy, crackers, raisins, or non-diet soda.
Your doctor can prescribe a glucagon emergency injection kit to use in case you have severe hypoglycemia and cannot eat or drink. Be sure your family and close friends know how to give you this injection in an emergency.
Also watch for signs of high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) such as increased thirst or urination, blurred vision, headache, and tiredness.
Blood sugar levels can be affected by stress, illness, surgery, exercise, alcohol use, or skipping meals. Ask your doctor before changing your dose or medication schedule.
This medicine can affect the results of certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using empagliflozin.
Empagliflozin is only part of a treatment program that may also include diet, exercise, weight control, blood sugar testing, and special medical care. Follow your doctor's instructions very closely.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
What should I avoid while taking empagliflozin?
Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy.
What are the possible side effects of empagliflozin?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Seek medical attention right away if you have signs of a genital infection (penis or vagina): burning, itching, odor, discharge, pain, tenderness, redness or swelling of the genital or rectal area, fever, not feeling well. These symptoms may get worse quickly.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- little or no urination;
-
dehydration symptoms --dizziness, weakness, feeling light-headed (like you might pass out);
-
ketoacidosis (too much acid in the blood) --nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, confusion, unusual drowsiness, or trouble breathing; or
-
signs of a bladder infection --pain or burning when you urinate, increased urination, blood in your urine, fever, pain in your pelvis or back.
Older adults may be more likely to have side effects from this medicine.
Common side effects may include:
- bladder infection; or
- vaginal yeast infection.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect empagliflozin?
Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:
- insulin or other oral diabetes medications; or
- a diuretic or "water pill."
This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect empagliflozin, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about empagliflozin.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2020 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 3.01. Revision date: 8/30/2018.
