Jardiance Hair and Skin Changes: What Empagliflozin Actually Does

Does Jardiance cause hair loss?

The label's pooled type 2 diabetes safety data cover 1,976 adults given Jardiance for a mean of about 23 weeks. Its adverse-reaction table reports only reactions that occurred in at least 2% of treated patients and more often than placebo [1]. The postmarketing list, which captures rarer reports from clinical use, includes rash, urticaria and constipation [1].

Genital yeast infections: the main skin-related effect

Empagliflozin blocks SGLT2 in the kidney, and the label says Jardiance increases urinary glucose excretion and increases the risk of genital mycotic infections in both male and female patients [1].

In the label's pooled placebo-controlled adult trials, female genital mycotic infections were reported in 5.4% of women taking 10 mg and 6.4% taking 25 mg, compared with 1.5% taking placebo [1]. Male genital mycotic infections were reported in 3.1% of men taking 10 mg and 1.6% taking 25 mg, compared with 0.4% taking placebo [1].

Genital yeast infections can cause itching, soreness, pain with sex, external burning with urination, or abnormal discharge [2].

Fournier's gangrene: the rare infection the label warns about

The label's Warnings and Precautions section includes necrotizing fasciitis of the perineum, or Fournier's gangrene, a rare life-threatening infection requiring urgent surgical intervention [1]. The label says to immediately evaluate pain or tenderness, erythema or swelling in the genital or perineal area, along with fever or malaise, for necrotizing fasciitis [1]. If it is suspected, the label says to discontinue Jardiance and promptly institute appropriate medical and/or surgical intervention [1]. In patients with Fournier's gangrene, serious outcomes have included multiple surgeries and death [1].

Rash, urticaria and angioedema

The label's postmarketing list includes rash and urticaria [1]. Serious hypersensitivity reactions, including angioedema, have occurred with Jardiance [1]. Hypersensitivity to empagliflozin or any excipient is a contraindication [1]. The label says that if a hypersensitivity reaction occurs, discontinue Jardiance, treat promptly, and monitor until signs and symptoms resolve [1].

Does empagliflozin cause dry skin?

Dry skin does not appear in the label's pooled adverse-reaction table [1]. The label's volume-depletion warning is about intravascular volume depletion, which may show up as symptomatic hypotension or acute transient changes in creatinine, and about acute kidney injury [1]. The label says patients with eGFR under 60, older patients, or patients on loop diuretics may be at increased risk, and that volume status and renal function should be assessed before starting [1].