Jardiance (empagliflozin) is taken as one tablet by mouth, once a day, with or without food. Most people start on the 10 mg tablet, and your prescriber may increase it to 25 mg if you need additional blood sugar control. The flexibility around timing and meals makes it one of the simpler diabetes medications to fit into a daily routine.
When and How to Take It
You can take Jardiance at any time of day. Morning, evening, with breakfast, on an empty stomach: none of that matters. The one rule is consistency. Pick a time that’s easy to remember and stick with it every day. Many people pair it with a morning routine like brushing their teeth or eating breakfast, simply because that’s the easiest habit to maintain.
Swallow the tablet whole with water. There’s no need to crush or split it.
What to Do if You Miss a Dose
If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it’s already close to the time you’d normally take your next dose, skip the missed one and resume your usual schedule. Never take two tablets at the same time to make up for the one you missed.
How Jardiance Works in Your Body
Jardiance belongs to a class of medications called SGLT2 inhibitors. Normally, your kidneys filter glucose out of your blood and then reabsorb most of it back into your bloodstream. Jardiance blocks the protein responsible for that reabsorption, so 30% to 60% of the filtered glucose passes into your urine instead. This lowers blood sugar without relying on insulin, and typically reduces A1C by about 0.5% to 1.0%.
Because the medication pushes extra sugar into your urine, you’ll likely notice that you urinate more frequently, especially in the first few weeks. This is the drug working as intended, not a side effect to worry about. It does mean you need to stay well hydrated throughout the day.
Beyond Blood Sugar: Heart Benefits
Jardiance is also prescribed for heart failure, even in people without diabetes. In the landmark EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial, empagliflozin reduced the risk of cardiovascular death by 38% compared to standard care in people with type 2 diabetes and existing heart disease. That’s a significant number, and it’s one of the reasons this medication is now used for more than just glucose control.
Common Side Effects to Expect
The most common side effects are directly tied to the way Jardiance works. Extra sugar in the urine creates a favorable environment for yeast and bacteria, which means genital yeast infections and urinary tract infections are more frequent on this medication.
In clinical trials, genital yeast infections affected about 5% to 6% of women taking Jardiance, compared to roughly 1.5% of women on a placebo. For men, the rate was about 1.6% to 3.1% versus 0.4% on placebo. Urinary tract infections showed a similar pattern, with about 18% of women on the 10 mg dose reporting UTIs compared to 16.6% on placebo.
To reduce your risk of these infections:
- Drink plenty of water to flush the urinary tract regularly.
- Practice good genital hygiene, keeping the area clean and dry. Change out of damp clothing or swimsuits promptly.
- Urinate frequently rather than holding it, especially since the medication already increases urine volume.
- Wear breathable cotton underwear to reduce moisture buildup.
If you notice burning during urination, unusual discharge, or persistent itching, those are signs of an infection that needs treatment. Most of these infections are mild and resolve quickly with standard care.
Increased Urination and Dehydration
Because Jardiance causes your kidneys to excrete more glucose and water, you’ll urinate more often and in greater volume than usual. This can lead to dehydration if you’re not proactive about fluid intake, particularly in hot weather, during exercise, or if you’re ill with vomiting or diarrhea. Signs of dehydration include dizziness when standing up, dry mouth, and feeling lightheaded. Keeping a water bottle nearby throughout the day is a simple habit that helps.
People who also take blood pressure medications or diuretics (water pills) should be especially attentive, since the combined fluid loss can cause blood pressure to drop too low.
When to Temporarily Stop Taking It
There is a rare but serious condition called euglycemic ketoacidosis that can occur with SGLT2 inhibitors. Unlike typical diabetic ketoacidosis, blood sugar levels may appear normal or only mildly elevated, which can delay recognition. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, unusual fatigue, and shortness of breath. Some people notice a fruity smell on their breath.
This condition is more likely to develop during situations that stress the body: surgery, serious infections, prolonged fasting, significant dehydration, or a major illness where you’re not eating or drinking normally. Many prescribers recommend pausing Jardiance at least three days before a scheduled surgery and not restarting until you’re eating and drinking normally again. If you’re sick and unable to keep food or fluids down, contact your prescriber about whether to hold the medication temporarily.
Low Blood Sugar Risk
Jardiance on its own rarely causes low blood sugar because it doesn’t stimulate insulin production. However, if you also take insulin or medications that do stimulate insulin release (like glipizide or glimepiride), the combined effect can push your blood sugar too low. If you’re on one of these combinations, your prescriber may reduce the dose of the other medication when starting Jardiance. Keep glucose tablets or a fast-acting sugar source on hand just in case.
Storing Your Medication
Keep Jardiance at room temperature, away from excessive heat and moisture. A bathroom medicine cabinet, despite being convenient, tends to get humid from showers. A bedroom drawer or kitchen shelf away from the stove is a better choice. Keep the tablets in their original packaging until you’re ready to take them.