- The most common Jardiance (empagliflozin) side effects on the FDA label are UTIs and genital yeast infections. In label trials, 5.4% to 6.4% of women got yeast infections, vs 1.5% on placebo. Blurred vision and hair loss are not listed.
- Serious Jardiance side effects are rare but can be life-threatening. The label warns about ketoacidosis (too much acid in the blood), which can happen even when blood sugar is below 250 mg/dL, plus dehydration, serious infections and allergic reactions.
- Jardiance makes your kidneys pass about 64 to 78 grams of sugar into your urine each day, per the label. This is why people pee more and get more genital infections. Dehydration is more common at age 75 and older.
- In adults, Jardiance rarely causes low blood sugar on its own (0.4% in a 24-week trial, same as placebo). Risk rises with insulin or a sulfonylurea (a diabetes pill). In children 10 and older, risk is higher even without these.
Starting a new daily pill raises a fair question: which Jardiance side effects are normal, and which need a call to your provider? Its generic name is empagliflozin, and it lowers blood sugar in type 2 diabetes for adults and children 10 and older.
Empagliflozin is also approved to lower heart and kidney risks in heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and type 2 diabetes with heart disease. Our guide uses the FDA label, revised January 2026, plus large clinical trials and FDA safety reports.
Read on for side effect rates by dose, the warning signs that need urgent care, and what helps.
Important safety information
Read the Jardiance Medication Guide and Prescribing Information for every warning and side effect. Both were revised in January 2026.
What are the most common Jardiance side effects?
The most common Jardiance (empagliflozin) side effects are urinary tract infections (UTIs) and genital yeast infections in women, the only reactions the FDA label lists at 5% or more. In label trials, UTIs affected 9.3% of people on 10 mg and 7.6% on 25 mg, vs 7.6% on placebo.
Jardiance side effects in FDA label trials, by dose
| Side effect | Jardiance 10 mg | Jardiance 25 mg | Placebo | Higher than placebo? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Urinary tract infection (UTI) | 9.3% | 7.6% | 7.6% | 10 mg only; 25 mg was the same as placebo |
| Genital yeast infection, women | 5.4% | 6.4% | 1.5% | Yes, both doses |
| Genital yeast infection, men | 3.1% | 1.6% | 0.4% | Yes, both doses |
| Upper respiratory infection (colds, sinus) | 3.1% | 4.0% | 3.8% | 25 mg slightly; 10 mg was lower than placebo |
| Peeing more (increased urination) | 3.4% | 3.2% | 1.0% | Yes, both doses |
| High cholesterol or blood fats (dyslipidemia) | 3.9% | 2.9% | 3.4% | 10 mg only; 25 mg was lower than placebo |
| Joint pain (arthralgia) | 2.4% | 2.3% | 2.2% | About the same as placebo |
| Nausea | 2.3% | 1.1% | 1.4% | 10 mg only; 25 mg was lower than placebo |
Source: FDA Prescribing Information, revised January 2026, Table 2. Pool of 5 placebo-controlled type 2 diabetes trials (four 24-week trials plus 18-week insulin add-on data): 995 people on placebo, 999 on 10 mg, 977 on 25 mg, average use about 23 weeks. Women's and men's yeast infection rows use women and men only as the base.
Jardiance 25 mg did not cause clearly more side effects than 10 mg in the label's main table. UTIs were 7.6% on 25 mg vs 9.3% on 10 mg, and yeast infections in men 1.6% vs 3.1%. Yeast infections in women (6.4% vs 5.4%) and colds or sinus infections (4.0% vs 3.1%) were a little higher on 25 mg.
A few other label rates were higher on empagliflozin 25 mg than on 10 mg. Dehydration problems at age 75 and older reached 4.4% vs 2.3%, and low blood sugar with basal insulin 28.4% vs 19.5%.
LDL cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol) on empagliflozin rose with the dose: up 6.5% on 25 mg and 4.6% on 10 mg, vs 2.3% on placebo.
In the EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial (2015; 7,028 adults, median 3.1 years), 17.3% on Jardiance stopped it for any side effect, vs 19.4% on placebo.
In label trials, 0.2% of people on empagliflozin stopped for a genital infection (0% on placebo), and 0.1% to 0.2% for a UTI (0.1% on placebo). The label itself gives no overall rate of stopping.
For what the medicine treats and how it works, see our Jardiance guide.
What are the serious side effects of Jardiance?
The serious side effects of Jardiance are ketoacidosis, dehydration, serious urinary and genital infections such as Fournier's gangrene, low blood sugar, lower limb amputation and allergic reactions.
The two empagliflozin side effects the FDA label calls life-threatening are ketoacidosis and Fournier's gangrene.
- Ketoacidosis (diabetic ketoacidosis, DKA): Jardiance can cause ketoacidosis even when blood sugar is normal or below 250 mg/dL (euglycemic DKA), the FDA label warns. It means too much acid (ketones) in the blood and needs hospital care, and reports describe it lasting up to 2 weeks after stopping. Signs include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, tiredness, trouble breathing and ketones in your urine or blood.
- Ketoacidosis risk factors: the Medication Guide says people with type 1 diabetes have a high risk. Type 2 diabetes and pancreas problems, such as past pancreatitis or pancreas surgery, also raise it. Triggers include missed or lowered insulin, illness with fever, eating much less, a ketogenic (very low-carb) diet, surgery, dehydration and drinking too much alcohol.
- Dehydration (volume depletion): losing too much body water and salt, which can lower blood pressure. Signs include feeling dizzy, faint, lightheaded or weak, especially when you stand up.
- Serious urinary infections (urosepsis and pyelonephritis): a UTI that spreads to the kidneys (pyelonephritis) or the blood (urosepsis). The Medication Guide says a UTI can also bring fever, back pain, nausea or vomiting, so call right away if these appear.
- Fournier's gangrene (necrotizing fasciitis of the perineum): a rare, life-threatening infection of the tissue between and around the genitals and anus that needs urgent surgery. A 2020 US claims study found 3.8 cases per 100,000 person-years on SGLT2 inhibitors, the drug class that includes Jardiance. Signs are pain, tenderness, redness or swelling there, with a fever above 100.4°F or feeling very unwell.
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia): in adults, mainly when Jardiance is taken with insulin or a sulfonylurea (a pill that makes the pancreas release insulin). In children 10 and older, the risk is higher even without these medicines. Rates are in the low blood sugar section below.
- Lower limb amputation: the label carries an amputation warning. In its kidney disease trial, toe and mid-foot amputations were the most frequent. Call your provider right away about new pain or tenderness, sores, ulcers or infection in a leg or foot.
- Serious allergic reaction (hypersensitivity): a rash, hives, or swelling of the face, lips, mouth or throat (angioedema) that can make breathing or swallowing hard. An allergy to empagliflozin is the one reason the label says never to take it.
Good to know
Jardiance has no boxed warning, the FDA's strongest label warning. The amputation boxed warning some people remember belonged to Invokana (canagliflozin), and the FDA removed it in August 2020.
How rare are the serious side effects of Jardiance?
Serious Jardiance side effects are rare: in a 2024 analysis of 4 large empagliflozin trials, ketoacidosis occurred at 0.07 events per 100 patient-years, vs 0.03 on placebo. In plain terms, that is about 7 events for every 10,000 people taking it for a year.
How often serious problems happened
| Problem | Rate on Jardiance or its class | Comparison | Source and setting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ketoacidosis, trials | 0.07 per 100 patient-years | 0.03 on placebo | 4 empagliflozin outcome trials, about 21,000 people |
| Ketoacidosis, real world | 2.03 per 1,000 person-years (all SGLT2 inhibitors) | 0.75 on DPP-4 inhibitors (another diabetes pill class); empagliflozin alone about 2.5 times the risk (hazard ratio 2.52) | Canada and UK health records, 208,757 new users per group, 2013 to 2018 |
| Fournier's gangrene | 3.8 cases per 100,000 person-years (SGLT2 inhibitors) | 3.2 on DPP-4 inhibitors; no higher risk after adjusting for other factors | US insurance claims, 2013 to 2017 |
| Lower limb amputation | 5.0 per 1,000 patient-years | 4.3 on placebo (hazard ratio 1.05) | Jardiance label, 4 outcome trials |
| Serious kidney or blood infection | 0.28 per 100 patient-years | 0.25 on placebo | 4 empagliflozin outcome trials |
Rates come from different study types and are not directly comparable. Sources: Wanner et al., 2024; Douros et al., 2020; Yang et al., 2020; FDA Prescribing Information, January 2026.
FDA reviewers, writing in 2019, found 55 cases of Fournier's gangrene in people taking SGLT2 inhibitors from March 2013 to January 2019. All 55 needed surgery, and 3 people died. The case review could not show how often it happens.
In the EMPA-KIDNEY trial (published 2023), amputations occurred at 4.3 vs 2.9 events per 1,000 patient-years on empagliflozin 10 mg vs placebo. That was 28 vs 19 people, a gap that could be due to chance (hazard ratio 1.43, range 0.80 to 2.57).
In a 2022 Lancet meta-analysis of 13 large SGLT2 inhibitor trials, ketoacidosis in people with diabetes was about twice as likely as on placebo (relative risk 2.12). Still, placebo groups had only about 0.2 events per 1,000 patient-years.
Can Jardiance cause low blood sugar?
In adults, Jardiance rarely causes low blood sugar on its own. In a 24-week label trial, 0.4% of people on either dose had low blood sugar, the same as placebo. The risk rises when it is added to insulin or a sulfonylurea, and your prescriber may lower the dose of those medicines.
Low blood sugar on Jardiance, by background therapy
| Taken with | Jardiance 10 mg | Jardiance 25 mg | Placebo | Severe (needed help) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nothing else (24 weeks) | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0% in all groups |
| Metformin (24 weeks) | 1.8% | 1.4% | 0.5% | 0% in all groups |
| Metformin plus a sulfonylurea (24 weeks) | 16.1% | 11.5% | 8.4% | 0% in all groups |
| Pioglitazone, with or without metformin (24 weeks) | 1.2% | 2.4% | 1.8% | 0% in all groups |
| Basal insulin, with or without metformin (18 weeks) | 19.5% | 28.4% | 20.6% | 1.3% on 25 mg; 0% on 10 mg and placebo |
| Multiple daily insulin shots, with or without metformin (18 weeks) | 39.8% | 41.3% | 37.2% | 0.5% in each group |
Low blood sugar = glucose of 70 mg/dL or less. Source: FDA Prescribing Information, revised January 2026, Table 3.
In children 10 to 17, the Jardiance label reports more low blood sugar than on placebo, with or without insulin. Levels below 54 mg/dL occurred in 19.2% vs 7.5%, and none of these lows were severe.
Insulin and sulfonylureas can cause low blood sugar on their own, which is why adding Jardiance to them raises the risk.
Signs of low blood sugar on empagliflozin, listed in its Medication Guide, include headache, drowsiness, weakness, irritability, hunger, a fast heartbeat, confusion, shaking, dizziness and sweating.
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) says low blood sugar can also make it hard to see or speak clearly. NIDDK advises these steps for a low:
- If your blood sugar is below 70 mg/dL, take 15 to 20 grams of fast sugar, such as 4 glucose tablets or half a cup (4 ounces) of juice.
- Wait 15 minutes, then check your blood sugar again.
- If it is still below 70 mg/dL, take another 15 to 20 grams and recheck.
- Once it is back in range, eat a snack if your next meal is more than 1 hour away.
Does Jardiance cause yeast infections and UTIs?
Yes, Jardiance (empagliflozin) causes more genital yeast infections and raises urinary tract infection (UTI) risk slightly, because it sends sugar into your urine. In label trials of about 23 weeks, yeast infections affected 4.1% on 10 mg and 3.7% on 25 mg, vs 0.9% on placebo. UTIs affected 9.3% and 7.6%, vs 7.6% on placebo.
- Problem: itching, discharge or redness in the genital area, or burning when you pee.
- Cause: Jardiance sends about 64 grams (10 mg) to 78 grams (25 mg) of sugar into the urine each day, per the FDA label. That sugar can help yeast and bacteria grow.
- Higher risk: a history of chronic or repeated genital or urinary infections, the label says. In a 2017 pooled analysis of 15 empagliflozin trials, 32.0% on 10 mg with past genital infections got one again, vs 9.7% on placebo.
- Fix: practice daily genital hygiene, ask your provider about an over-the-counter antifungal for a yeast infection, and call promptly for UTI signs. These steps come from the Medication Guide and a 2021 review in Annals of Pharmacotherapy.
A 2022 Lancet meta-analysis of 13 large SGLT2 inhibitor trials found genital yeast infections about 3.6 times as likely as on placebo (relative risk 3.57). UTIs rose only 8% (relative risk 1.08).
Each infection has its own signs, according to the Medication Guide:
- Vaginal yeast infection: vaginal odor, itching, and white or yellowish discharge that may be lumpy or look like cottage cheese.
- Yeast infection of the penis (balanitis): redness, itching or swelling of the penis, a rash, bad-smelling discharge, or pain in the skin around it.
- UTI: burning when you pee, needing to pee often or right away, pain low in the belly (pelvis), or blood in your urine.
On Jardiance, a UTI that spreads to the kidneys (pyelonephritis) can cause fever and chills, back or side pain, and nausea or vomiting, NIDDK says. The label lists kidney infection as a serious infection, so call your provider right away for these signs.
What helps prevent yeast infections and UTIs on Jardiance?
Good genital hygiene may help prevent yeast infections on Jardiance, according to a 2021 review in Annals of Pharmacotherapy by Engelhardt and colleagues. These infections are often mild and treatable without stopping empagliflozin.
- Practice daily genital hygiene.
- Tell your provider before you start if you get repeated yeast infections or UTIs, because past infections raise the risk.
- For a yeast infection, ask your provider about an over-the-counter antifungal medicine, and call if it does not help.
- Call your provider promptly for UTI signs, and right away for fever or back pain.
You may not need to stop Jardiance for a UTI or yeast infection. In label trials, only 0.1% to 0.2% of people stopped it for a UTI, and 0.2% for a genital infection. Your prescriber decides whether you should pause it.
[EDITOR QUOTE SLOT: PharmD judgment on hygiene counseling for people starting Jardiance. Real, named and logged quote only.]
Are Jardiance side effects different for women and men?
Yes, Jardiance side effects differ by sex mainly for genital and urinary infections: women get yeast infections and UTIs more often, but men get yeast infections (balanitis) too.
Jardiance side effects in women vs men
| Side effect | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Genital yeast infection, label trials (about 23 weeks) | 5.4% on 10 mg, 6.4% on 25 mg, vs 1.5% on placebo | 3.1% on 10 mg, 1.6% on 25 mg, vs 0.4% on placebo |
| Genital infection, EMPA-REG OUTCOME (median 3.1 years) | 10.0% on Jardiance vs 2.6% on placebo | 5.0% on Jardiance vs 1.5% on placebo |
| UTI, label trials | 18.4% on 10 mg, 17.0% on 25 mg, vs 16.6% on placebo | 3.6% on 10 mg, 4.1% on 25 mg, vs 3.2% on placebo |
| What a yeast infection looks like | Vaginal itching, odor, white or yellowish discharge | Redness, itching or swelling of the penis, rash or bad-smelling discharge (balanitis) |
| Fournier's gangrene | Can happen: 16 of 55 cases FDA reviewers found | Can happen: 39 of 55 cases FDA reviewers found |
| Pregnancy and breastfeeding | Not recommended in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters or while breastfeeding | Does not apply |
Sources: FDA Prescribing Information (January 2026); EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial (NEJM, 2015); FDA case review (2019). Label rows count women and men separately. Case counts come from reports and cannot show how often Fournier's gangrene happens.
If you are uncircumcised, swelling from balanitis (a yeast infection of the head of the penis) can make the foreskin hard to pull back, the Medication Guide says.
A tight foreskin (phimosis) affected 0.1% or fewer men in label trials. Research suggests circumcised men have a lower risk of genital yeast infections on SGLT2 inhibitors, according to a 2021 review in Annals of Pharmacotherapy. See our tips on caring for an uncircumcised penis.
Jardiance is not recommended in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, based on animal data showing kidney effects. The label also says not to breastfeed while taking it, so tell your provider if you are pregnant or plan to be.
Why does Jardiance make you pee more, and can it dehydrate you?
Jardiance (empagliflozin) makes you pee more because it blocks SGLT2, a kidney protein that returns sugar to the blood, so extra sugar and water leave in urine. That fluid loss can dehydrate you and lower your blood pressure. In label trials, dehydration problems were rare: 0.5% on 10 mg and 0.3% on 25 mg, vs 0.3% on placebo.
Jardiance is not a diuretic (water pill) by drug class. It is an SGLT2 inhibitor (sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor), but the label says the sugar it removes pulls extra water into urine (osmotic diuresis). In a short label study, urine rose by 341 mL a day on 25 mg on day 1, and by 135 mL by day 5.
In label trials, peeing more affected 3.4% of people on empagliflozin 10 mg and 3.2% on 25 mg, vs 1.0% on placebo. Thirst affected 1.7% and 1.5%, vs 0% on placebo. Peeing at night was uncommon: 0.3% on 10 mg and 0.8% on 25 mg, vs 0.4% on placebo.
The Medication Guide says that while you take Jardiance, sugar will show up in your urine on a urine test. The label says to take it once a day in the morning.
Jardiance can make you dizzy or lightheaded, mostly when you stand up, if fluid loss lowers your blood pressure.
- Problem: feeling dizzy, faint or lightheaded when you stand (orthostatic hypotension, a drop in blood pressure on standing).
- Cause: fluid loss lowers blood pressure. The label lists kidney function below an eGFR (kidney filtering rate) of 60, older age and loop diuretics (strong water pills) as higher risks.
- More risks in the Medication Guide: blood pressure medicines, including water pills, a low-salt diet, kidney problems and age 65 or older.
- On loop diuretics: in a 2017 pooled analysis of 15 empagliflozin trials, dehydration problems reached 10.3% on 10 mg and 9.2% on 25 mg, vs 7.3% on placebo.
- Fix: call your provider right away if you eat or drink less than usual, vomit, have diarrhea, or feel faint.
The Jardiance label sets no daily water target. The Medication Guide says to ask your provider how much fluid you should drink each day.
Can Jardiance damage your kidneys?
Jardiance does not usually harm the kidneys. In a 2024 pooled analysis of 4 large empagliflozin trials (Wanner and colleagues), serious kidney injury was less common than on placebo. Serious acute kidney injury ran at 1.73 vs 2.38 events per 100 patient-years (relative risk 0.73).
Empagliflozin is also FDA-approved to slow chronic kidney disease. The EMPA-KIDNEY trial, published in 2023, followed 6,609 adults with chronic kidney disease for a median of 2 years. Kidney disease getting worse or heart death happened in 13.1% on empagliflozin vs 16.9% on placebo (hazard ratio 0.72).
Jardiance often causes a small early dip in eGFR (kidney filtering rate) in the first weeks, which then levels off. In EMPA-REG OUTCOME, the drop was usually small at week 4 (within 9 eGFR points) and reversed after stopping.
In EMPA-REG OUTCOME, an eGFR dip of more than 10% at week 4 happened in 28.3% of people on empagliflozin, vs 13.4% on placebo. A 2021 analysis of that trial in Kidney International calls the dip largely reversible.
After approval, people have reported sudden kidney injury on Jardiance linked to dehydration, some needing hospital care and dialysis. Reports like these cannot show how often it happens.
Jardiance is not forbidden on dialysis, but it was not studied in people on dialysis, and dialysis is not a contraindication (a reason never to use a medicine). Still, the label does not recommend it for blood sugar control when eGFR is below 30. People who started dialysis during the trials did not have to stop, and your prescriber decides.
Related reading • Type 2 diabetes: treatment options explained: Compare the main medicine choices for type 2 diabetes. • GLP-1 side effects: what to expect and what helps: How a different diabetes and weight medicine class affects the body. • Wegovy® (semaglutide) side effects: common and serious: Label rates and warning signs for this weekly injection. • Zepbound® (tirzepatide) side effects: common and serious: Label rates and warning signs for this weekly injection, by dose.
Can Jardiance cause blurred vision, rash, diarrhea, fatigue or hair loss?
There's no good evidence that Jardiance causes blurred vision, diarrhea, fatigue or hair loss: the FDA label does not list them as side effects. On the label, rash, hives and constipation come only from reports collected after approval, with no known rate. Rash and hives are also listed as allergy signs.
Blurred vision, tiredness and dizziness on empagliflozin can be signs of low blood sugar, dehydration or ketoacidosis, which the label does cover.
Symptoms people ask about: on the Jardiance label vs reported to the FDA
| Symptom | On the Jardiance label? (where) | What trials and research show | FAERS reports (count) | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blurred vision (eyes) | No | We found no studies linking Jardiance to blurred vision. Eye disease (retinopathy) risk was no different from placebo in a 2026 network meta-analysis of 30 trials (Ortiz-Seller et al.). Blurred vision can be a low blood sugar sign. | 479 blurred vision; 548 vision problems | Check your blood sugar if you can, and tell your provider |
| Rash or hives | After-approval reports only (section 6.2); also an allergy sign | No rate known | 1,343 rash; 370 hives | Get emergency care if a rash comes with swelling of the face or throat or trouble breathing; otherwise, call your prescriber |
| Itching | No, except as a sign of a genital yeast infection | Not measured as a side effect | 1,399 | Genital itching can mean a yeast infection, so call your provider |
| Diarrhea | No; named only as a cause of fluid loss | We found no SGLT2-specific signal in published research | 3,444 | Diarrhea raises dehydration risk; call if you cannot keep fluids down |
| Constipation | After-approval reports only (section 6.2) | No rate known | 1,295 | Tell your provider if it lasts |
| Tiredness (fatigue) | No, except as a sign of ketoacidosis, or of Fournier's gangrene when it comes with genital pain or swelling | We found no SGLT2-specific signal in published research | 3,074 | Tiredness with nausea, vomiting, stomach pain or trouble breathing needs care right away |
| Hair loss | No | We found no studies linking SGLT2 inhibitors to hair loss | 420 | Tell your provider, who can look for other causes |
| Joint pain | Yes, label Table 2 (section 6.1) | 2.4% (10 mg) and 2.3% (25 mg) vs 2.2% on placebo | 1,290 | Mention it at your next visit |
| Nausea | Yes, label Table 2 (section 6.1); also a ketoacidosis sign | 2.3% (10 mg) and 1.1% (25 mg) vs 1.4% on placebo | 3,891 | Nausea with vomiting or stomach pain: get checked for ketoacidosis right away |
| Headache | No, except as a low blood sugar sign | Not measured as a side effect | 2,077 | Check your blood sugar if you also take insulin or a sulfonylurea |
| Dizziness | No, except as a dehydration or low blood sugar sign | Dehydration problems: 0.5% (10 mg) and 0.3% (25 mg) vs 0.3% on placebo | 2,850 | Check your blood sugar; call your provider if it happens when you stand |
| Muscle cramps | No | Not mentioned anywhere on the label | 581 muscle spasms | Tell your provider |
FAERS: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System, via openFDA. Reports listing empagliflozin with at least one suspectdrug, received through June 30, 2026 (openFDA update of July 30, 2026), queried October 1, 2026. Reports do not show that empagliflozin caused the problem and cannot give rates. Label: FDA Prescribing Information, January 2026. Retinopathy: Ortiz-Seller et al., 2026.
FAERS (the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System) held 71,923 reports that list empagliflozin, including combination pills, and flag at least one suspect drug.. The reports were received through June 30, 2026, and we queried openFDA on October 1, 2026. These voluntary reports can be duplicated or incomplete, and they cannot show that Jardiance caused a problem or how often it happens.
Because the number of people taking empagliflozin is unknown, FAERS counts also cannot be used to compare it with other drugs.
A rash on Jardiance may be a general rash or raised, red areas on the skin (hives), the Medication Guide says. Either can come with swelling of the face, lips, mouth or throat, a sign of a serious allergic reaction.
Does Jardiance cause weight loss?
Yes, Jardiance causes modest weight loss: in 24-week label trials, people lost about 2% to 3% of body weight, vs a change of less than 1% on placebo.
Jardiance (empagliflozin) is not FDA-approved for weight loss. Its approved uses are type 2 diabetes, heart failure and chronic kidney disease.
In the 24-week EMPA-REG MONO trial (2013), 676 adults with type 2 diabetes took empagliflozin 10 mg, 25 mg or placebo. People lost 2.26 kg on 10 mg and 2.48 kg on 25 mg, about 5 pounds. People on placebo lost 0.33 kg.
Weight loss on Jardiance comes from sugar lost in urine. On 25 mg, that sugar carries about 206 calories a day, in a 2015 Diabetes Care study by Ferrannini and colleagues. In that 90-week study of 86 people, people ate more to make up for it, so they lost only about 29% of the predicted weight.
Jardiance is not a GLP-1 medicine. It is an SGLT2 inhibitor, a different class from GLP-1 medicines like Ozempic® (semaglutide).
To compare GLP-1 choices for diabetes, see Mounjaro® (tirzepatide) vs. Ozempic®. For more on this topic, read our guide to Jardiance and weight loss.
How long do Jardiance side effects last, and what happens if you stop?
Two early Jardiance side effects ease within days to weeks. Extra urine is smaller by day 5, per the January 2026 FDA label, and the early eGFR dip levels off. Infections and ketoacidosis can start at any time, and sugar keeps leaving the urine for about 3 days after the last dose.
- First days: Jardiance reaches its peak level about 1.5 hours after a dose. Extra urine is highest on day 1 and smaller by day 5.
- First weeks: eGFR often dips by week 4, then levels off.
- Any time: yeast infections, UTIs and ketoacidosis can start at any point. Fournier's gangrene cases began 5 days to 49 months after people started an SGLT2 inhibitor, in a 2019 FDA case review.
- Long term: trials lasting 16 months to 3.1 years found no new long-term side effects, and ketoacidosis stayed rare. EMPA-REG OUTCOME followed 7,028 adults for a median of 3.1 years, and EMPA-KIDNEY followed 6,609 for 24 months. The heart failure trials EMPEROR-Reduced (3,730 people, 16 months) and EMPEROR-Preserved (5,988 people, 26 months) found no new side effects. Across these 4 trials, ketoacidosis ran at 0.07 vs 0.03 events per 100 patient-years on placebo (Wanner, 2024).
- After stopping: the FDA label notes reports of ketoacidosis or sugar in the urine after people stopped an SGLT2 inhibitor. Some lasted more than 6 days, and up to 2 weeks.
Jardiance (empagliflozin) stays active for about 3 days after the last dose: sugar keeps leaving the urine that long, per the label. Its half-life is 12.4 hours, the time it takes for its blood level to drop by half.
If you stop Jardiance, the label lists no withdrawal effects, and sugar keeps leaving your urine for about 3 days. Still, talk to your prescriber before you stop, because it treats long-term conditions and the prescriber sets any change.
Who should not take Jardiance, and when should you pause it?
The only people the Jardiance label says must not take it are those allergic to empagliflozin or any of its ingredients. The label also advises against it for type 1 diabetes and tells prescribers to pause it before surgery.
- Do not take (the only contraindication, or reason never to use it): an allergy to empagliflozin or any ingredient in the pill. Angioedema (swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat) has happened.
- Not recommended for type 1 diabetes: Jardiance is not recommended for blood sugar control in type 1 diabetes, because it may raise ketoacidosis risk.
- Not recommended for blood sugar control when eGFR is below 30: the label says it is unlikely to lower blood sugar at that kidney level.
- Not recommended for some kidney diseases: the label does not recommend it to treat chronic kidney disease in people with polycystic kidney disease. The same applies to people who need, or recently had, IV immune-suppressing treatment or more than 45 mg of prednisone for kidney disease. The label says it is not expected to work in these groups.
- Not recommended in pregnancy or breastfeeding: the 2nd and 3rd trimesters, and while breastfeeding.
- Not studied: people already on dialysis. Dialysis is not a contraindication, but the eGFR-below-30 limit for blood sugar control still applies.
- Tell your provider first if you have: past pancreatitis or pancreas surgery, or repeated genital or urinary infections. Also mention a past amputation, foot ulcers, a diabetic foot infection, or blocked or narrowed blood vessels in your legs.
- Pause before surgery: the Jardiance label tells prescribers to withhold it at least 3 days, if possible, before surgery or a procedure that needs long fasting. Prescribers restart it once you are stable and eating and drinking again.
- Sick days: if you are sick on Jardiance and cannot eat or drink as usual, call your prescriber right away for a plan. The Medication Guide says fever, vomiting or eating much less can trigger ketoacidosis and dehydration.
Good to know
Tell your surgeon, and anyone doing a procedure that needs fasting, that you take Jardiance. Ask when to stop it and when to start it again, as the Medication Guide advises.
Are Jardiance side effects worse in older adults?
Yes, dehydration and UTIs are more common on Jardiance in adults 75 and older, according to the FDA label. Dehydration problems affected 2.3% on 10 mg and 4.4% on 25 mg, vs 2.1% on placebo.
UTIs in adults 75 and older affected 15.7% on empagliflozin 10 mg and 15.1% on 25 mg, vs 10.5% on placebo, per the label.
A 2017 pooled analysis of 15 empagliflozin trials included about 12,600 people. Among those 75 and older, dehydration affected 6.1% on 10 mg and 5.6% on 25 mg, vs 4.6% on placebo.
In a 2024 analysis of 4 large empagliflozin trials, serious dehydration at 85 and older ran at 2.56 events per 100 patient-years, vs 1.00 on placebo. That possible signal could still be due to chance (relative risk 2.39, range 0.92 to 6.21).
The Jardiance label reports no overall safety differences between adults 65 and older and younger adults in the heart failure and kidney trials. Dehydration and UTIs still rise at 75 and older.
Caregivers of elderly family members can watch for these risks and warning signs:
- Older adults get dehydrated more often on Jardiance because it pulls water into the urine and the label counts older age as a risk. Its other listed risks are an eGFR below 60 and loop diuretics (strong water pills). The Medication Guide adds blood pressure medicines and a low-salt diet.
- Dizziness, weakness or fainting, mostly when standing up.
- Water pills or other blood pressure medicines, insulin or a sulfonylurea on the medicine list.
- UTI signs, especially with fever or back pain.
- New sores, ulcers or infection on the feet.
- Sick days when they cannot eat or drink as usual, which call for a call to the prescriber.
When should you see a healthcare provider about Jardiance side effects?
See your healthcare provider promptly for signs of a urinary or genital infection, dehydration or a new foot sore on Jardiance. Get emergency care for ketoacidosis or allergy signs. Call your provider if you have:
- UTI signs, such as burning or needing to pee often.
- A yeast infection that does not improve after an over-the-counter antifungal.
- Dizziness or fainting.
- New pain, sores, ulcers or infection in a leg or foot.
- Frequent low blood sugar.
- Planned surgery or a procedure that needs fasting.
- A pregnancy, or plans to breastfeed.
Call 911 or go to the nearest ER if you have any of these:
- Signs of ketoacidosis: nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, unusual tiredness or trouble breathing, even if your blood sugar is below 250 mg/dL. Stop Jardiance and get help. If you can, check for ketones in your urine or blood, as the Medication Guide advises.
- Signs of Fournier's gangrene: pain, tenderness, redness or swelling of the genitals or the area back to the rectum, with fever above 100.4°F or feeling very unwell.
- A severe allergic reaction: swelling of the face, lips, mouth or throat, or trouble breathing or swallowing.
- Signs a UTI has spread to the kidneys or blood (urosepsis): urinary symptoms with fever, back pain, nausea or vomiting.
- Severe low blood sugar: passing out, a seizure, or a low you cannot treat yourself. NIDDK tells family and friends to call 911 right away after giving glucagon (an emergency medicine for lows), or if none is on hand.
These warning signs come from the FDA Medication Guide, revised January 2026, and from NIDDK.
You can report Jardiance (empagliflozin) side effects to the FDA's MedWatch program at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Bottom line
- Genital yeast infections (4.1% on 10 mg vs 0.9% on placebo) and UTIs are the most common Jardiance side effects on the label. Daily genital hygiene and early treatment may help.
- Ketoacidosis and Fournier's gangrene are rare but need emergency care. Ketoacidosis can happen even when blood sugar looks normal.
- Dehydration risk rises with age, water pills and low kidney function. Low blood sugar risk rises with insulin or a sulfonylurea.
- Blurred vision, hair loss, diarrhea and fatigue are not label side effects, though some people report them to the FDA.
Frequently asked questions
What is the downside of Jardiance?
The main downsides of Jardiance (empagliflozin) are genital yeast infections and UTIs, the label's most common side effects, plus peeing more and, less often, dehydration. In label trials, 4.1% of people on 10 mg got genital yeast infections, vs 0.9% on placebo. Rare but serious risks include ketoacidosis and Fournier's gangrene, and there is no boxed warning.
What to avoid while taking Jardiance?
The Jardiance label does not ban alcohol, but drinking too much raises ketoacidosis risk. Avoid the situations its label links to ketoacidosis: drinking too much alcohol, a ketogenic (very low-carb) diet, skipping meals or insulin doses, and getting dehydrated. Tell your provider before any surgery, because the label tells prescribers to withhold it at least 3 days before, if possible. Ask your provider how much fluid to drink each day.
How long should you stay on Jardiance?
Jardiance has no set stopping point on its label, and it treats long-term conditions: type 2 diabetes, heart failure and chronic kidney disease. Its 4 outcome trials followed people for a median of 16 months to 3.1 years, with no new side effects in the two heart failure trials. Your prescriber decides how long you stay on it.
Is Jardiance the same as Farxiga?
Jardiance (empagliflozin) is not the same as Farxiga (dapagliflozin), though both are SGLT2 inhibitors. No head-to-head trial shows that any SGLT2 inhibitor has fewer side effects. The FDA added the same ketoacidosis and serious urinary infection warnings to the whole class in December 2015. Learn more in our empagliflozin guide.
Does Jardiance cause upper respiratory infections?
Jardiance does not clearly raise the risk of colds or other upper respiratory infections. In label trials, 3.1% of people on 10 mg and 4.0% on 25 mg had one, vs 3.8% on placebo. The 10 mg rate was lower than placebo, and the 25 mg rate was only slightly higher.
How much does Jardiance cost?
Jardiance's cost depends on your insurance plan, its drug list and your pharmacy, so what people pay varies widely. We don't list prices in our health guides. For coverage questions, ask your pharmacist or your insurance plan.
peptides.io relies on primary sources: FDA labels and safety communications, peer-reviewed trials, and federal health agencies. Read our editorial policy.
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