Is It Safe to Mix Jardiance and Alcohol? No, and Here’s Why

Starting any new medication can lead to a lot of questions. How does this medication work? Do you need to change any habits or anything about your diet? One dietary change that people often overlook is whether alcohol interacts with their medications.

If you’re starting Jardiance (empagliflozin), it’s good to know if you can have a drink while taking it. But taking Jardiance and drinking alcohol can lead to serious side effects. And drinking can also affect the health conditions you’re taking it for.

How does Jardiance work?

Jardiance is a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor. Many people know it as a Type 2 diabetes medication. But it’s also FDA approved to manage heart failure and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

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Jardiance works by removing extra glucose (sugar) and sodium (salt) from your bloodstream through your kidneys. This helps lower blood sugar levels. It also takes stress off the heart and kidneys.

What happens if you mix Jardiance and alcohol?

Alcohol can worsen certain Jardiance side effects. And it can raise the risk of serious complications that are rare when you take Jardiance as directed. Because of these risks, it’s not recommended to drink alcohol at all while taking the medication.

Below are more details on three notable risks of mixing Jardiance and alcohol.

1. Ketoacidosis

Both Jardiance and alcohol carry a risk of ketoacidosis. Combining them raises this risk. This is especially true if you binge drink (4 or more drinks for women and 5 or more drinks for men within about 2 hours).

Ketoacidosis is a life-threatening complication of diabetes in which your blood becomes acidic. It usually happens only if your sugar levels are dangerously high. But in rare cases, it can happen when your sugar levels are in your target range. Ketoacidosis is a medical emergency that requires treatment in a hospital.

2. Low blood sugar

If you have diabetes, mixing Jardiance and alcohol also raises the risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

• Other notable interactions: Read more about other Jardiance (empagliflozin) interactions and how to manage them.

• More about side effects: Alcohol can worsen some of Jardiance’s side effects, such as peeing more often.

• Medications not to mix with alcohol: There are many medications that interact with alcohol, some of which can have life-threatening consequences if combined.

On its own, alcohol lowers blood sugar. And if you’re living with diabetes, it can cause your sugar levels to go too low. That’s why it’s recommended for people living with diabetes to limit how much alcohol they drink.

When taken by itself, Jardiance doesn’t usually cause low blood sugar. But drinking alcohol raises this risk. And if you also take certain diabetes medications, such as insulin, your risk is even higher.

3. Dehydration

Whether you have diabetes or not, combining Jardiance and alcohol can lead to dehydration.

Jardiance removes extra sugar and salt from your body through your kidneys. They leave your body through your urine. This causes you to pee more than usual. Rarely, this Jardiance side effect can cause dehydration. Your risk is higher if you take it with other medications or substances that make you urinate more.

Alcohol is a substance that causes you to pee more. In severe cases, heavy drinking can lead to dehydration. Drinking alcohol while taking Jardiance makes dehydration more likely.

If you’re going to consume alcohol while taking Jardiance, be sure to drink enough hydrating fluids. This can help lower the risk of dehydration.

Can alcohol make Jardiance less effective?

Alcohol doesn’t directly make Jardiance less effective. But it can negatively affect two health conditions Jardiance treats: Type 2 diabetes and CKD.

Alcohol raises the risk of low blood sugar for people living with Type 2 diabetes. But some alcoholic beverages, such as sweet wines, are high in sugar. These drinks can cause a sugar spike shortly after drinking, followed by lower sugar levels a few hours later. Your diabetes medications, including Jardiance, may not be able to manage these ups and downs very well.

Alcohol can put strain on the kidneys. It makes it harder for your kidneys to filter waste from your bloodstream. If you have CKD, this added stress raises your risk for kidney damage. Jardiance may have a harder time protecting your kidneys if alcohol is putting extra strain on them.

How much alcohol can you drink while taking Jardiance?

To be clear, no amount of alcohol is considered safe for anyone to consume. And given the potential risks, it’s not a good idea to drink at all if you’re taking Jardiance.

But totally avoiding alcohol may not be realistic for everyone. Speak with your prescriber. They can review your health history and tell you if an occasional drink while taking Jardiance might be OK for you. They can also help you safely cut back on or stop drinking if you’re having trouble doing so on your own.

If you or someone you know struggles with substance use, help is available. Call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 to learn about resources in your area.

What other Jardiance interactions should you know about?

Alcohol isn’t the only interaction to be aware of. Jardiance also interacts with:

• Diuretics (“water pills”), such as furosemide (Lasix)

• Insulin

• Sulfonylureas, such as glipizide (Glucotrol XL)

• Glinides, such as repaglinide

• Lithium (Lithobid)

There are also some foods and drinks you may want to limit or avoid while taking Jardiance:

• Caffeinated drinks, such as coffee or tea

• Foods high in sugar or with added sugars, such as baked goods

• Ultra-processed (refined) carbohydrates, such as white bread

• Foods high in salt, such as chips and deli meats

These aren’t the only foods and medications that interact with Jardiance. Share a list of medications you take with your prescriber and pharmacist. And ask your healthcare team if you should make any dietary changes.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Timothy Aungst, PharmD

Timothy Aungst, PharmD, has worked in pharmacy practice for the past decade with different roles and responsibilities. He has served as an associate professor of pharmacy practice for almost a decade, a clinical pharmacist in outpatient cardiology management, and now in home healthcare.

Edited by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

Reviewed by:

Jennifer Gershman, PharmD, CPh, PACS

Jennifer Gershman, PharmD, is a licensed pharmacist in Florida. She has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 15 years and is currently a medical writer.

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