Jardiance for Heart Failure: Everything You Need To Know

Heart failure affects over 6.7 million adults in the U.S., posing a significant burden on patients and healthcare systems alike. For decades, managing heart failure has been challenging, but a breakthrough treatment—Jardiance for Heart Failure (empagliflozin)—is offering new hope. Originally developed for diabetes, this medication has gained FDA approval for reducing cardiovascular death and hospitalization in heart failure patients.

In this guide, we’ll explore how Jardiance for Heart Failure works, its benefits, clinical evidence, safety considerations, and how it can help heart failure patients improve their quality of life.

Key Takeaways

• Jardiance is FDA-approved to lower the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalizations in heart failure patients.

• It benefits both diabetic and non-diabetic patients with reduced or preserved ejection fraction.

• Jardiance improves heart function, reduces fluid buildup, and protects kidney health.

• Side effects include dehydration, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and low blood pressure.

What is Jardiance?

Jardiance also known as empagliflozin is a prescription medication that doctors recommend for managing type 2 diabetes. It helps maintain blood sugar levels by stopping kidneys from reabsorbing glucose and allowing the excretion of additional sugar via urine. However, as it is FDA-approved now, the healthcare provider has started prescribing it to lower the risk of heart failure. It aids in preventing heart failure by reducing fluid and sodium buildup in the blood vessels. Let's learn more about the role of Jardiance in heart failure. 

The Role of Jardiance For Heart Failure

Jardiance (empagliflozin) is a prescribed medication that belongs to the group of drugs called "Sodium-Glucose Co-Transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. Originally, it was approved for type 2 diabetes in 2014, now in recent years it has earned significant attention for heart failure treatment. In 2021, the US FDA approved 10 mg of Jardiance to lower the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization in adults with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (low ability of the heart to pump blood).

This is how Jardiance plays a significant role in heart failure treatment:

• Reduces Hospitalization

Helps reduce the number of visits to the hospital because of the improvement in the symptoms of heart failure.

• Boosts Heart Function

Improves the ability of the heart to efficiently pump blood in patients living with heart failure.

• Protects the Kidneys

Reduces the amount of salt and sugar in the blood that the kidneys need to filter out, consequently protecting the kidney’s health.

• Prevents Risk of Death

Treats heart-related problems in patients with heart failure, lowering the risk of death.

• Improves Blood Vessel Function

Improves the ability of the blood vessels to dilate and support better blood circulation.

• Lowers inflammation

Reduces the risk of oxidative stress and inflammation that plays a huge role in heart failure progression. 

Clinical Evidence Supporting Jardiance For Heart Failure Treatment

According to the American College of Cardiology, the EMPEROR-Reduced trial has shown that Jardiance is extremely potent in improving heart failure outcomes in individuals with reduced ejection fraction. Research shows that heart failure patients who used Jardiance have experienced:

• A 29% reduction in cardiovascular death or 25% hospitalization risk compared to individuals who had a placebo.

• the lower chances of heart failure progression and improved quality of life.

Moreover, the EMPEROR-Preserved trial also demonstrated positive outcomes by lowering the risk of hospitalization or cardiovascular death in heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction (where the heart normally pumps blood but is very stiff to properly fill the heart with blood). All these findings show that Jardiance can be beneficial in both categories of heart failure. 

How Does Jardiance Work in Heart Failure?

This is how Jardiance works to treat heart failure:

• SGLT2 Inhibition

Blocks the activity of the SGLT2 protein present in the kidneys which lowers the reabsorption of glucose and supports its excretion through urine.

• Fluid & Sodium Removal

Increases elimination of excess water and sodium which lowers the risk of swelling and fluid buildup in the heart.

• Enhanced Heart Function

Reduces the pressure on the heart, enhancing its ability to efficiently pump or deliver blood.

• Lowered Inflammation

Reduces the chances of oxidative stress and inflammation which causes heart damage.

• Reduced Blood Pressure

Low blood pressure levels that, in turn, further relieve the workload on the heart.

• Kidney Protection

By controlling blood sugar levels and lowering the overload of fluid, it protects kidney function.

All these combined effects enhance the heart function and lower the heart failure symptoms. 

Jardiance Safety Information

When to Avoid Jardiance:

Jardiance may not be suitable in the case of:

• Severe Kidney Impairment

• Acute Heart Failure

• Polycystic Kidney Disease

• Pregnancy or Breastfeeding

• Severe Hypotension (low blood pressure)

• Allergic Reaction to Jardiance

• Active Bladder Cancer

Potential Side Effects

Common Side Effects:

• Increased urination.

• Dehydration or excessive thirst.

• UTIs or genital yeast infections.

• Low blood pressure.

Serious Side Effects:

• Kidney problems.

• Severe dehydration or dizziness.

• Rare cases of diabetic ketoacidosis or Fournier’s gangrene (serious genital infection).

Other Possible Side Effects:

• High blood potassium

• Nausea

• Fatigue

Important Note: If you experience any unusual symptoms, consult your doctor immediately. 

How to Take Jardiance?

• Dosage: The recommended starting dose of Jardiance is 10 mg a day. The dosage can be increased to 25 mg a day depending on the individual's tolerance.

• Time: Take it in the morning at the same time each day with or without food.

• Swallow Whole: Do not chew or crush the tablet; swallow it whole.

• Missed Dose: In case of missed dose, take it immediately as you remember. Do not use two doses at the same time as it can lead to overdose risk.

• Hydration: Drink a lot of water or fluids to avoid the risk of dehydration, particularly if you are using diuretics or during hot weather.

In overdose case:

• Call 911, an emergency service number in case of severe symptoms.

• Contact 800-222-1222, a Poison Center service number for overdosing emergencies.

Important Note: Always follow the instructions of doctors for dosage and timing.

How to Know if Jardiance Is Working

Look for these signs of improvement:

Reduced Symptoms:

• Less shortness of breath

• Low fatigue and higher energy levels

• Reduced swelling or fluid buildup

Improved Activity Levels:

• Being able to perform physical activities without feeling extremely tired.

Fewer Hospital Visits:

• Fewer hospital visits for addressing emergencies or complications.

Better Blood Test Results:

• Improved kidney function and electrolyte balance.

Note: Always keep track of symptoms and schedule regular check-ups with your healthcare provider.

Drug Interactions of Jardiance

If you are on Jardiance treatment, make sure to discuss your other medical condition and current medication with the healthcare providers. This can prevent the risk of drug interaction and can lower further complications. Jardiance can affect the following medications:

• Diuretics: Might lower blood pressure and increase dehydration.

• Blood Pressure Medications: Can raise the risk of low blood pressure.

• Insulin or Diabetes Medications: May contribute to low blood sugar levels.

• RAAS Inhibitors: Can cause kidney-related issues.

• NSAIDs: Might increase the risk of kidney damage, particularly with dehydration.

• Lithium: Can increase lithium levels, leading to chances of toxicity.

Is Jardiance Helpful for Treating Heart Failure Only in Type 2 Diabetes Patients?

No, this is not the case. A study reports that Jardiance can help with heart failure treatment, whether diabetic or not. Patients experienced the same results with the use of the medications regardless of any type of diabetes. Hence, the FDA approved it for heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction and with or without diabetes. 

Final Thoughts

Jardiance for heart failure treatment has indeed gained huge popularity in recent years as it is now FDA-approved to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death or hospitalizations. This helps boost the heart and kidney health. However, it also comes with some side effects that you need to be cautious about as they can lead to further complications. Hence, it's crucial for patients considering Jardiance to properly discuss all the possible benefits as well as risks with the doctor.

If you or someone you know is struggling with heart failure, speak with the healthcare providers about how Jardiance can aid in improving your heart health and overall quality of life. 

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