Jardiance and metformin are both common prescription medications used to lower blood sugar and A1C levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
However, more and more people are using multiple medications to manage their type 2 diabetes. Many people wonder if they’re able to take Jardiance and metformin together.
This article will explain everything you need to know about taking Jardiance and metformin together.
Why would you be prescribed Jardiance and metformin?
People are usually prescribed Jardiance or metformin if they have type 2 diabetes and they’re having trouble managing their blood sugar levels.
These medications help improve insulin sensitivity, bringing down blood sugar and A1C levels.
While neither medication is FDA-approved for weight loss, Jardiance and metformin cause modest weight loss in many people.
Both of these medications lower all-cause mortality as well as the risk of heart attack and stroke in people with type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
While metformin is considered the first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes, you may also be prescribed Jardiance if you’re not meeting your blood glucose goals by taking metformin alone.
You may also be prescribed both medications if you have type 2 diabetes and:
- You’re living with heart failure. Jardiance is approved to treat two of the most common kinds of heart failure, preventing hospitalizations for heart failure as well as lowering the risk of death related to heart disease.
- You have heart disease.
- You have kidney disease. Jardiance can slow kidney problems from worsening and also lower the risk of heart-related death in people with chronic kidney disease.
Can you take them together?
Unlike some diabetes medications that cannot be combined, it is safe to take both Jardiance and metformin together.
However, you should never combine diabetes medications without your doctor’s guidance.
Metformin is available in either an immediate-release (IR) or an extended-release (ER) tablet. It is taken once or twice a day with food (usually right before a meal).
The ER tablets are taken once per day with an evening meal.
Jardiance is also taken in pill form once per day, either with or without food.
If you’re prescribed Jardiance and metformin, there are combination pills you can take that have both medications: Synjardy and Synjardy XR.
Synjardy is taken twice daily with meals, and Synjardy XR is taken once per day with your morning meal.
This can make it easier to remember to take both medications and more convenient, too.
However, if you prefer to take these medications separately, you can do that, too.
Do you always need to take Jardiance with metformin?
No. They will only be prescribed together in certain circumstances.
Many people find success taking only Jardiance or only metformin. However, some people require both medications to meet their health goals.
If you have type 2 diabetes and heart disease, heart failure, or kidney disease, your doctor may prescribe Jardiance with or without metformin.
Sometimes combining these medications will make meeting your health goals and improving your diabetes management easier than taking one or the other medication alone.
What are the side effects of Jardiance and metformin?
Jardiance and metformin both cause side effects. Taking these medications together can increase the likelihood that you’ll experience these side effects.
The common side effects of these medications include:
Jardiance side effects:
- Urinary tract infection (UTI)
- Genital yeast infection
- Frequent urination
- Excessive (amount) of urination
- Upper respiratory infection (the common cold)
- Joint pain
- Nausea
- Low blood sugar
- Dehydration
- Low blood pressure
- Weight loss
- Allergic reaction
- Increased thirst
- Nausea (which is the most common side effect of these medications)
- Vomiting
- Stomach ache
- Stomach cramps
- Diarrhea
- Decreased appetite
- Weight loss
- Constipation
- Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), especially when used in conjunction with insulin
If you have kidney problems or chronic kidney disease (CKD), you’re more likely to experience adverse side effects from both of these medications. CKD is a common diabetes complication in many people.
Talk with your doctor about any concerns you have about possible side effects, especially if you’re taking Jardiance and metformin together.
Can taking these medications together be dangerous?
Taking these medications together is not usually dangerous.
Never take more medication in a 24-hour period than you’re prescribed, or you’re more likely to experience severe adverse side effects.
If you think you’ve overdosed on Jardiance and metformin, call your doctor right away or seek emergency medication attention immediately.
Additionally, taking Jardiance in combination with metformin can increase the likelihood that you’ll experience low blood sugar, especially if you also take insulin.
Be aware of the signs and symptoms of low blood sugar levels, including:
- Shakiness
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Confusion
- Sweating
- Rapid heart rate
- Nervousness
- Hunger
- Trouble concentrating
- Irritability
The symptoms of severe low blood sugar that suggest a medical emergency include:
- Slurred speech
- Confused thinking
- Unconsciousness
- Seizures
- Coma
- In rare instances, death
Call 911 if someone you know is experiencing severely low blood sugar.
This is considered a medical emergency that needs immediate attention and professional medical help.
Who should not take these medications?
Never take a medication that is not prescribed specifically for you.
Do not take Jardiance or metformin if you do not have diabetes. Jardiance and metformin are not FDA-approved to treat type 1 diabetes (but metformin is sometimes prescribed for type 1 diabetes off-label.)
Talk with your doctor if you have existing kidney or liver problems, a history of infection of the vagina or penis, a history of urinary tract infections (UTI), or problems with urination.
Talk with your doctor if you are going to have surgery, have a history of pancreatitis, or struggle with binge drinking alcohol.
Do not use Jardiance or metformin if you are pregnant, planning on becoming pregnant, or are breastfeeding. These medications may harm your unborn baby.
Metformin is not recommended for patients who are 80 years of age and older who have kidney problems.
Talk to your doctor about any allergies you have to medications and about any questions or concerns you may have about taking Jardiance and metformin together.
