Sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors

SGLT2 inhibitors are a type of medication used to treat heart failure and diabetes. The only SGLT2 inhibitor available in New Zealand is empagliflozin. Learn about how empagliflozin works, its benefits and side effects.

Types of SGLT2 inhibitors

  • empagliflozin, also called Jardiance

How does empagliflozin work?

Empagliflozin removes extra salt, sugar and fluid from your body when you urinate (pee). This helps improve some heart failure symptoms, including:

  • breathlessness
  • tiredness
  • swelling.

There are other benefits of empagliflozin. It can also:

  • lower your blood glucose
  • protect your kidneys
  • reduce your chance of being admitted to hospital due to heart failure.

What are the side effects?  

Common side effects include:

  • urinating (peeing) more often than usual 
  • itchy skin or mild skin rash
  • increased risk of a urinary tract infection
  • increased risk of yeast infections, like thrush.   

If you have diabetes and are on other diabetes medication the risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) may be increased. 

Rare but serious side effects include:

  • a condition called ketoacidosis.Talk to you doctor immediately if you have nausea, vomiting, confusion, excessive thirst, pain in your stomach, difficulty breathing.
  • a bacterial condition called Fournier’s gangrene. Talk to your doctor if you have swelling/pain in your anal area (bottom) and genitals (vagina or penis).

Ring 111 if you have any of the following:

  • severe chest pain
  • severe headache
  • acute shortness of breath
  • swelling of your mouth, lips or tongue, as this could be an allergic reaction.

Talk to your doctor if your side effects are worrying you. Don't stop taking your medication without talking to your doctor first. It may take a while for the medication to work, but the benefits usually outweigh the side effects.

What checks do I need?

Your doctor will check your blood pressure and weight, and do blood tests to check kidney function. 

These checks are especially important in the first two to four weeks and every three to six months after.

How to take your SGLT2 inhibitor

It’s important to take empagliflozin as prescribed. Do not to skip doses.  

Make sure you organise your repeat prescription before you run out of tablets. 

What happens if I miss a dose?

If you forget to take a dose, take it immediately, then continue as normal the following day.

However, if it’s 12 hours or less before your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue as normal.

Do NOT take a double dose.

What else do I need to know?

Other medications

Tell your health professionals if you're taking any:

  • supplements
  • natural medicines
  • vitamins
  • alternative therapies. 

These can sometimes make your heart medications less effective. 

Before surgery or other medical procedures

Tell your doctor if you’re about to have surgery or another medical procedure where you can’t eat beforehand. You may need to stop your empagliflozin before the procedure.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you’re: 

  • breastfeeding 
  • pregnant
  • trying to get pregnant. 

You’ll need to change to another medication.

 

Related treatments and conditions

Blood pressure
Heart failure
Search for another heart medication