Can Jardiance Cause UTIs? Yes, but Here's How to Lower Your Risk
Key takeaways:
Jardiance (empagliflozin) is a medication that’s FDA approved to treat Type 2 diabetes, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common side effect of Jardiance.
Some experts think Jardiance raises the risk of UTIs because it causes the body to remove extra glucose (sugar) through the urine. Bacteria and other germs are attracted to extra glucose around the genital area.
If you develop a UTI while taking Jardiance, contact your primary care provider right away. Untreated UTIs can lead to serious complications, such as kidney infections and sepsis.
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Table of contents
Jardiance (empagliflozin) is a popular FDA-approved medication for treating Type 2 diabetes, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease. It works well and has many potential benefits. But it’s also known for having certain side effects.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common side effects of Jardiance. But how does Jardiance increase your chances of getting a UTI? And is there any way to prevent them?
How does Jardiance work?
Jardiance is a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor. It primarily works in your kidneys to stop your body from reabsorbing extra glucose (sugar). The unabsorbed glucose then leaves your body through your urine. And this leads to lower blood glucose levels.
Jardiance, which comes in 10 mg and 25 mg oral tablets, also helps prevent your kidneys from reabsorbing extra sodium (salt). This can lower blood pressure and helps take stress off the kidneys and heart.
Jardiance works in other ways, too. Experts believe it may lower inflammation in the kidneys and heart, help the heart pump blood better, and allow blood to reach the kidneys more easily.
Why does Jardiance increase your risk of UTIs?
There’s debate as to why and how Jardiance causes UTIs.
Some experts believe that UTIs happen with Jardiance because of the extra glucose in the urine. Bacteria and other germs are attracted to glucose around the genital area. They thrive in this environment and multiply, which can lead to UTIs. Some studies have found that 1 in 3 people taking Jardiance develops UTIs.
But the research on UTI risk with Jardiance has been mixed. Some studies haven’t found a significant difference in the number of UTIs between people taking and not taking Jardiance. The scientists behind these studies concluded that the infections were caused by diabetes — not the medication — given there is a known connection between the two. People living with diabetes have a greater risk of UTIs than those who don’t have the condition, regardless of the medications they take.
Despite mixed evidence, the FDA issued a warning in 2015 about the risk of UTIs with Jardiance. During a safety review, the FDA found there have been cases of people who experienced life-threatening UTIs after starting the medication. As a result, the agency warned people taking Jardiance to contact their prescriber at the first sign of UTI symptoms.
Prevention first: Here, experts review tips to help stop urinary tract infections (UTIs) before they start.
Get UTI relief now. Read about the best ways to get rid of a UTI — fast.
Other side effects: Learn more about other notable Jardiance side effects — from yeast infections to joint pain — and how to manage them.
Common symptoms of a UTI include burning when urinating and feeling the need to urinate more frequently. Treating a UTI early can help lower your risk of complications.
Do UTIs from Jardiance happen to both women and men?
Yes, in Jardiance’s clinical trials, both men and women experienced UTIs while taking the medication. But UTIs were more common in women. They were also more common for people with a history of frequent UTIs. The 10 mg and 25 mg tablets seem to have similar risks of this side effect.
Should you stop taking Jardiance if you have a UTI?
No, you shouldn’t stop taking Jardiance if you have a UTI. Doing this won’t help clear the infection. But it could worsen the symptoms of the condition you’re taking Jardiance for. Only stop taking Jardiance if a healthcare professional tells you to do so.
If you think you have a UTI, reach out to your primary care provider right away. They’ll likely prescribe you an antibiotic to treat the infection. They may also recommend over-the-counter medications that can relieve UTI symptoms, such as phenazopyridine (AZO).
How can you prevent UTIs from Jardiance?
You may not be able to completely prevent UTIs from Jardiance. But there are tips you can try to help lower your overall risk:
Stay hydrated, and drink plenty of water.
Don’t hold in your urine. Use the bathroom when you have the urge to go.
Urinate after having sexual intercourse. Though, this is more applicable to women.
Wipe from front to back after using the bathroom. This is also more applicable to women.
Try drinking unsweetened cranberry juice or taking cranberry supplements. Avoid cranberry cocktail products.
Ask your primary care provider whether a daily probiotic may be helpful for you.
Depending on your individual risk, your primary care provider may recommend taking a daily antibiotic or methenamine hippurate (Hiprex). These medications can help prevent UTIs, but they’re not right for everyone. Usually, they’re prescribed to people who have frequent UTIs.
What complications can result from an untreated UTI?
Untreated UTIs can develop into more serious infections. Two examples are pyelonephritis and sepsis.
Pyelonephritis is the medical term for a kidney infection. A kidney infection happens when bacteria or other germs in the bladder travel to the kidneys. In severe cases, it can cause permanent kidney scarring.
Sepsis is a potential, life-threatening complication of an untreated UTI. Sepsis occurs when the immune system fights an infection by creating inflammation throughout your body. The condition can cause your organs to shut down. It’s a medical emergency that requires treatment in the hospital.
What other side effects can happen with Jardiance?
Besides increasing your risk of UTIs, Jardiance can cause other side effects. Other common Jardiance side effects include:
Genital fungal (yeast) infections
Frequent urination (even without having a UTI)
Upper respiratory tract infections
Higher cholesterol
Joint pain
Nausea
Rare but serious Jardiance side effects include:
Hypoglycemia (low blood glucose)
Dehydration
Kidney damage (caused by dehydration)
Ketoacidosis (too much acid in the blood)
Severe infections of the genital area, such as Fournier’s gangrene
Discuss your risks for these side effects with your prescriber.
The bottom line
Jardiance (empagliflozin) is a popular medication used to treat Type 2 diabetes, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease. While effective, it’s associated with certain side effects, including an increased risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Jardiance removes extra glucose (sugar) from your body through your urine. This creates an environment where bacteria and other germs may multiply more easily. And this may raise your risk of UTIs.
If you develop a UTI while taking Jardiance, let your primary care provider know right away. Untreated UTIs can lead to serious complications, such as kidney infections and sepsis.
Why trust our experts?
References
Bailey, C. J., et al. (2022). Renal protection with SGLT2 inhibitors: Effects in acute and chronic kidney disease. Current Diabetes Reports.
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals. (2024). Jardiance - empagliflozin tablet, film coated [package insert]. DailyMed.
Hu, Yang., et al. (2020). Fournier gangrene associated with sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors: A pharmacovigilance study with data from the U.S. FDA adverse event reporting system. Journal of Diabetes Research.
Lopaschuk, G. D., et al. (2020). Mechanisms of cardiovascular benefits of sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors: A state-of-the-art review. JACC: Basic to Translational Science.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (2017). Definition and facts of kidney infection (pyelonephritis).
Tanriverdi, M., et al. (2023). Association of SGLT-2 inhibitors with bacterial urinary tract infection in Type 2 diabetes. BMC Endocrine Disorders.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2022). FDA revises labels of SGLT2 inhibitors for diabetes to include warnings about too much acid in the blood and serious urinary tract infections.
Uitrakul, S., et al. (2022). The incidence and risk factors of urinary tract infection in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus using SGLT2 inhibitors: A real-world observational study. Medicines.
Wiegley, N., et al. (2022). Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors and urinary tract infection: Is there room for real concern? Kidney360.
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