Regarded as one of the most common lifestyle diseases, diabetes afflicts a significant percentage of the US population. Latest estimates of prevalence rates in the US are a clear indication – with roughly more than 13 percent of adults in the US known to have the condition. Among all age groups, the rates are a little above 10 percent. Effectively, this means that one in every 10 people in the US have diabetes. Various lines of treatment are presently prescribed for diabetics, and this includes Jardiance. Following subsections explain all about the medication, including known and possible side effects of Jardiance to help users and caregivers prevent or mitigate the undesirable effects.
Overview of Jardiance and mechanism of action
Belonging to the category of SGLT2 (sodium glucose co-transport 2) inhibitors, it is used for treating patients with type 2 diabetes. It is known to help improve blood sugar levels, and is generally prescribed along with life style modifications. A reduction in blood sugar levels, helps in reducing the risk of cardiovascular death among patients diagnosed with heart ailments. The tablet is prescribed to be taken once every day, and can be taken either with or without food. Though there is an impact on pharmacokinetics, the effect is not very significant, therefore patients can take the medication with or without food.
SGLT2 transporters are responsible for reabsorption of glucose, and this in turn is the cause for increase in blood sugar levels. The medication is known to have the highest selectivity for SGLT2 and has the distinction of being the only medication that has been approved in Canada and Europe for treating diabetic adults with chronic heart conditions. Almost ninety percent of glucose reabsorption in the kidneys is attributed to SGLT2, and by inhibiting this, Jardiance helps to reduce blood glucose levels.
Clinically proved outcomes of Jardiance
One of the reasons for the popularity of Jardiance is the clinically proved effectives of the anti-diabetic medication. For instance, Jardiance is known to significantly improve blood sugar levels and results have been documented in a short period of six months from commencing the dosage. The medication caused a reduction in hemoglobin levels between 0.7 to 0.8 percent, while fasting blood sugar levels were observed to have reduced by around 19 mg/dL. In addition to the above, the patients also reportedly lost weight by close to 3 percent. Other important findings of studies indicate that the medication helped reduce the risk of death from cardiovascular conditions among diabetics with heart conditions by almost 38 percent.
Commonly reported side effects of Jardiance
All medications come with the possibility of undesirable effects or outcomes, in addition to the desired outcomes of the medication. The mechanism of action of medications and properties of compounds are responsible for the unwanted effects. All approved medications are commercially available after necessary testing protocols and medications that are considered as totally unsafe are never approved for sale. Certain medications that come with the possibility of serious or life-threatening effects are classified accordingly by the FDA, such as the black box warning. This helps alert users and healthcare professionals about the potential risks of the medication.
Side effects are typically broadly categorized into mild or moderate effects, and serious or adverse effects. Most mild and moderate effects are relatively common in occurrence, while the serious effects are generally rare. In addition to listed effects, there is also the possibility of other effects that may not have been reported or experienced. Most effects do not require medical intervention and may only need certain precautions, and are known to resolve naturally. However, certain effects may be serious in nature, may be persistent, and will require urgent medical intervention. It is necessary to know about the different types of effects and take suitable remedial measures wherever necessary.
It is also necessary to stay clear of apprehensions that all users will experience side effects of medications. A significant percentage of users are unlikely to experience any of the undesirable effects of medications. The nature and intensity of effects depend on various factors such as the dosage, the frequency of intake, the condition being treated, the age of the patient, overall health, pre-existing ailments, and medications in use. The following compilation is of known effects and is neither complete nor exhaustive in nature. This is intended to only offer a broad reference of possible effects.
Compilation of known undesirable effects
Patients are known to end up with urinary tract infections, and this needs to be treated to prevent the infection from aggravating. Symptoms that indicate the condition include a burning sensation during urination, apart from an unusual increase in frequency of urination. There is also the possibility of the urine appearing cloudy and murky. Other possible side effects of the anti-diabetic medication include vaginal yeast infections. There are tell-tale symptoms of this condition, and this also needs to be treated to prevent it from aggravating. Common symptoms include itching sensation, an abnormal sore feeling, apart from pain during urination, not experienced earlier.
Series effects that need treatment at the earliest
As mentioned above, certain effects are serious and it is essential to urgently seek medical intervention. For instance, the patient’s blood pressure levels may dip, and this condition, medically known as hypotension needs to be arrested at the earliest. There are clear symptoms of this condition, such as a light headed feeling, or a dizzy feeling when rising from a resting position. The skin may feel cold or clammy to the touch, and patients are also known to lose consciousness.
The medication may also result in possible damage to the kidneys. It is possible to identify the condition from the symptoms, though it is necessary to undergo suitable tests to determine or conform the same. Symptoms that are indicative of possible damage to the kidneys include a sudden decrease in urination, that gradually worsens. The patient may witness abnormal swelling around the ankles and in the legs, that is not attributed to any other condition or trauma. The individual may also experience some kind of fatigue due to possible renal conditions.
Effects that are a cause for concern
Certain effects, including the above mention serious side effects are a cause for concern, and need swift intervention at a suitable healthcare facility. For instance, there could be a build-up of ketones; known as ketoacidosis, and this could result in the blood turning more acidic in nature. Similarly, there is a possibility of the medication causing Fournier’s gangrene, which needs to be halted and treated with urgency. This is a condition where the genital area is severely affected by gangrene. In addition to this, there is also the possibility of allergic reactions to the medication.
Most individuals may consider allergic reactions as a small or trivial issue, whereas the opposite is true in certain instances. Allergies have the potential to turn into serious conditions, and in some cases may also be fatal in nature. Jardiance may trigger mild allergic reactions, though it is necessary to be on guard to look out for symptoms of serious allergies. Commonly reported allergic reactions include rashes on the skin and itching sensation, apart from a reddish appearance. Patients and caregivers are to look out for symptoms of serious reactions such as swelling beneath the skin, especially in the eyes, the lips, apart from the hands and feet. Any unusual swelling of the tongue, or in the mouth or throat are also to be regarded as possible indications of serious effects. Patients who experience difficulty while breathing are to seek emergency intervention at a healthcare facility, to prevent further complications.
Drug interactions of Jardiance
Most medications come with the possibility of drug interactions, due to the conflicting nature of mechanism of action of two medications taken together. This extends to prescription medication, over the counter medications, herbal remedies, supplements, and alternative remedies. All patients are expected to clearly intimate the healthcare specialist about medications in use, including any of the above formulations. Drug interactions could result in stronger outcomes of either of the two medications, or it could lessen or reduce the potency of either of the medications. There is also the possibility of drug interactions causing stronger side effects of either of the two medications.
Depending on the drug interactions, the specialist may recommend discontinuation or temporary suspension of either of the two medications. This is determined by taking into account the criticality of the medications, with the patient being asked to continue the schedule of drugs that are more important. In the event both the medications are equally important, the specialist may alter the dosage or stagger the intake schedule to minimise the effects. In certain circumstances, either of the medications may also be changed to one that does not trigger interactions. Unlike side effects of medications, where the effects are not the same on patients, drug interactions are generally the same for all patients with a few exceptions.
Some of the possible outcomes of interactions could include the following:
- Increase in hypoglycemic activities of medications such as acarbose, acetohexamide, acetylsalicylic acid, albiglutide, alclometasone. This essentially means that the patient may be exposed to increased risk of hypoglycemia.
- Increase in diuretic properties of acetazolamide.
- More than expected outcomes of Jardiance when taken along with Acebutolol and Acetyl sulfisoxazole.
- Increase in risk of known side effects of Jardiance when taken along with Aldesleukin and Aliskiren.
It is therefore necessary for patients to clearly intimate the treating specialist about use of any of the above medications when prescribed Jardiance. The safest practice would be to list out all the medications and supplements used, to help identify and prevent possible interactions.
Education: Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) from the University of Florida. Experience: 5 years as a pharmacist and medical writer, creating content on medication management and pharmaceutical news for healthcare blogs and patient education sites.
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