Jardiance Gets a New Job

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given Jardiance a new job.

The medication recently received FDA approval to be used to reduce the risk of heart-related death in those with type 2 diabetes and heart disease. 

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals' Jardiance (empagliflozin) was approved in 2014 in combination with diet and exercise to lower blood sugar in those with type 2 diabetes.

Those with type 2 diabetes have a 70 percent higher chance of dying from heart disease than those who do not have type 2 diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Now, Jardiance may be used to help lower that risk. The approval comes after a study involving more than 7,000 patients with type 2 diabetes and heart disease found that empagliflozin appeared to lower the risk for heart-related death when compared to a placebo.

Common side effects of Jardiance include urinary tract infections and female genital infections.

Empagliflozin is not to be used in those with type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis, a condition in which there are large amounts of ketone in the blood or urine.

Ask your health care provider about your risk for heart disease.