Empagliflozin and Tiredness: What Users Say

• Sha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 29, 2019

Empagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "My PCP prescribed Jardiance, saying it will be great since it will help my diabetes and BP as well. As soon as I started the medication, I felt tired. I felt like a zombie. I looked up side effects, and this wasn’t listed, so I continued the medication. I was nauseous all the time and had constipation. Onto the third week, and I can’t stand the tiredness and nauseous feeling anymore. I expected to urinate often, so I’m not listing that. I am now 2 days off this, and I’m feeling a little better. My nausea has lessened up. I do not recommend this."

• Sid...
• March 10, 2023

Empagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "I started out for the first three weeks thinking this was great. I was having headaches the whole time and didn’t associate that it was the pill. I started on 10 mg after three weeks. The doctor wanted me to update to 25 mg, but I didn’t because the 10 mg was just fine and I was afraid the 25 mg would bring on side effects. Good thing I didn’t take it, as 2 to 3 weeks later, I was tired constantly and had no energy. It seemed like I was wide awake, but I couldn’t get up and move. The headaches continued. The thirst was insane, and I drink like I have a camel's hump full of water. Urinating up to two times an hour really started to worry me about my kidneys, and I was having back pains in that area, but I’m not sure what it was. Another week later, my legs were hurting all day. I just thought I was tired and on them too much. I got into bed, and that was the worst thing I could’ve possibly done."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 17, 2016

Empagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "I've been on 10 mg for over a month. It has made a huge difference in my BS levels. My fasting and evening BS was in the 200's, now it's 120-170. I've lost 12 pounds, but I am dieting too. I've noticed only a slight increase in urination, and I'm definitely more thirsty. I think the drug makes me tired, though. I'm hoping that gets better as time goes on. I haven't had any other side effects."

• Ste...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 10, 2019

Empagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "Been taking this for 5 weeks, 10 mg. Took 4 weeks to get used to it. I was really tired the first 3 weeks. My mmol was 13, but now it is 6.9 mmol. I have lost 3 pounds also. Thirst has subsided. Urinating less. Seems to suit me really well. Feeling positive about life again. Also, my blood pressure is now normal. Diabetes nurse pleased with progress. I started taking it at night to stop tiredness. Brilliant pill. FREE ON NHS here in the UK."

• Cha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 17, 2019

Empagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "I was prescribed Jardiance 4½ months ago by my doctor. And starting with 25 mg and going down to first ½ tablet, then to 10 mg and now 5 mg (1 tablet). But I have nothing positive to say about Jardiance. I have had a lot of side effects: abdominal pain, dizziness, headache, extreme thirst, sinusitis, itching, tiredness, nausea, vomiting, raised triglycerides, raised hematocrit, muscle stiffness, yeast infections, and now hair loss. No sleep at night - I wake up to pee 3 or 4 times during the night. And my A1C has risen more than 10%, and the weight loss is about 1 kg :-("

• Ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 6, 2019

Empagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "I have been taking this medication for one week, and it makes me extremely thirsty, and I feel the need to urinate mostly all the time. I feel light-headed and giddy when I stand, become really tired mid-afternoon (I take 10 mg around 8:00 a.m.), and occasionally feel sick. I have lost my appetite slightly but cannot see or feel any weight loss yet, which is what I hope for. It has helped my sugar levels, and as yet, I have had no signs of UTIs or intimate itching. Weirdly though, my lower arm itches like crazy. I've also had a few headaches, perhaps because I need to drink even more water. I will keep taking Jardiance as it's early days, but the constant thirst and urinating is a pain!"

• Pee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 6, 2019

Empagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "I'm female. Started taking Jardiance 10 mg daily on 15/12/18. Felt drained of energy, with itching in the genital area within a week of starting it. Took it for about 2 months, got tired of the 'scorched, itching' sensations down 'there.' Forever using creams to soothe the irritation. I seemed to wake up quite a few times at night - I thought whether I needed to pee, decided not, then went back to sleep, only to wake a few hours later thinking the same thing. I stopped taking it for several days and the lack of energy and itch disappeared. I noticed my glucose levels seemed higher in the mornings, so I started taking it again, only for 5 days this time - and within a day or two I had this 'scorched' sensation back again. Made me feel like eating salty food - I don't usually have any salt on my food, but I started adding it a little. I started getting this sense of dread while on it, couldn't stand the tiredness (zombie-like). I really don't think I will be taking it again."

• Pen...
• January 10, 2022

Empagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "Terrible! This is 3 months on it... nausea, stomach pain, extreme tiredness, urination every 45 mins, muscle weakness, horrible that I can't make my bed without resting, shortness of breath, dizziness bouts, liver pain, fatigue, and my sugar never has gone down. I feel this stuff is very dangerous."

• Suz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 29, 2017

Empagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "For some reason, my A1C was increasing. My doctor added Jardiance to my regimen. My A1C dropped from 7.8 to 7.4 quite quickly. After three more months on Jardiance, my A1C went from 7.4 to 6.2. I have also lost about 6 pounds since taking it. Side effects have been UTI, and I feel tired and weak quite a bit. No energy. Other than that, I've been good. But I don't like feeling like this, so I will tell my doctor about it today. Perhaps a small price to pay for such a drop in my A1C. It is also very expensive. I get samples from my doctor at times, but being on Medicare and it being a new drug, it's pretty costly. Have to see if it's even on the formulary for 2018, as it always changes, and the drug company does not give discounts to Medicare folks."

• Suz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 29, 2017

Empagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "For some reason, my A1C was increasing. My doctor added Jardiance to my regimen. My A1C dropped from 7.8 to 7.4 quite quickly. After three more months on Jardiance, my A1C went from 7.4 to 6.2. I have also lost about 6 pounds since taking it. Side effects have been UTI, and I feel tired and weak quite a bit. No energy. Other than that, I've been good. But I don't like feeling like this, so I will tell my doctor about it today. Perhaps a small price to pay for such a drop in my A1C. It is also very expensive. I get samples from my doctor at times, but being on Medicare and it being a new drug, it's pretty costly. Have to see if it's even on the formulary for 2018, as it always changes, and the drug company does not give discounts to Medicare folks."

• Kat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 19, 2021

Empagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "I do not like Jardiance. It’s causing me to be so tired I can barely function. Leg pain, back pain. I just thought it was from my back, but after reading some of these remarks, I’m beginning to see that it could very easily be the medication. But then I get this urge to go to the bathroom to urinate, and when I get there, I can’t go. I went to my doctor today, and he gave me medicine for a yeast infection. If this is what’s causing me to be so excessively tired and painful, I got to get off it because I cannot function like this. I feel like I’ve been hit by a Mack truck. So I’m not gonna take any more starting tomorrow. Thanks for everyone’s input."

• Suz...
• November 11, 2017

Empagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "Been on Jardiance 25 mg for 10 months. I’ve lost 35 pounds, A1C dropped from 7.8 to 6.2. I don’t feel I urinate excessively and sometimes get up once a night to go to the bathroom. I’m beginning to get low blood sugars during the day, so I may have to cut back on other diabetic meds I’m taking. I’ve had one UTI, which I had no symptoms with, just caught it in a routine urine test. I feel tired a lot, not sure it’s related to this med. Also, I’ve lost a ton of hair. My hair is so thin now I can’t believe it. Anyone else suffer hair loss since taking this med? It’s done wonders for my diabetes and weight loss, would hate to have to stop taking it."

• Sha...
• August 5, 2018

Empagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "I took Jardiance 25 mg along with Janumet 50/1000 for about a year and a half. A1C went from 10.8 to 5.8. I lost 70 pounds. Because I lost weight, I had to cut dosages in half for both meds. However, this seemed to be too much still. Then side effects became too much - lethargy, anxiety, muscle aches, increased appetite. I then tried just one of the meds... with Jardiance - even with the dosage halved (12.5 mg), the hunger and anxiety continued. I have gained 15 pounds back. I now take Janumet only at a halved dose - 50/500, still some side effects, but they are minimal."

• Cas...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 11, 2019

Empagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "Took Jardiance from May 20, 2019, together with Crestor and Metformin. From 121 kg to 112 kg today (June 11, 2019). Too quick weight loss, but my daily 30 min walk and less rice and no soda and anxiety (life things) might have contributed to the quickness of the weight loss. Went to the doctor today as this is the first time I have experienced this tiredness. Blood and urine tests were done, better numbers overall (HDL, LDL, triglycerides, and A1C down to 7.5 from 8.2). Asked if I could stop taking it, and they agreed as they mentioned I am basically peeing all the sugar I am consuming and, as a consequence, felt tired all the time. It is good for losing weight to probably make cardiovascular numbers better, but I don't think I can continue taking it long term. Will consult again on July 27, 2019."

• Ste...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 20, 2018

Empagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "Been on Jardiance for 7 weeks, cannot satisfy my thirst, always craving a drink. Then pee pee ongoing. Having to get up 3 times in the night for the toilet. Some days feeling lethargic and lightheaded. Plus point is being overweight I have lost 1 stone mainly around my waist in 6 weeks, so a quick fix weight loss for me. I will run with this with my side effects as long as the numbers reduce in levels and weight. The pee pee and waking me up is annoying."

• Nma...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 11, 2021

Empagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "Dr. prescribed Jardiance to help get sugar buildup out with urine. It has been horrible with constant yeast infections. I have never in my life had one. Burning with or without urination. Terrible thirst, sugar has been running 96-128. I am on Metformin. In the last 7 months, I had lost 17 lb before starting Jardiance. The medication is very scary, your whole body aches. No energy, and the yeast infections. Always on your mind. I am done with this medicine! Please beware!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 6, 2021

For Cardiovascular Risk Reduction "I have been on this drug for a few years and have lost about 14 lbs in this time. It worked very well at first and kept my sugar levels down. But it made me tired, and my legs ached. My feet have become swollen and tingly, so I have now stopped taking this. This side effect does not seem to be listed on anything I have read, but I have seen it mentioned in some of the comments on here."

• Ste...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 9, 2018

For Type 2 Diabetes "I managed my diabetes really well and was on insulin throughout my pregnancy. I was praised by the doctors during this time for my control, but now everything is going crazy. Fourteen months on, and my blood results keep going up, so my diabetes nurse suggested this. I was made aware of several side effects. The thrush is an absolute killer. I have had it constantly for the last three months. I have literally called to request a phone appointment today, as it is really getting me down now. I have lost weight and seen a reduction in my levels, but I'm really not happy right now. I feel tired all the time, I get lightheaded and very thirsty sometimes. I am only 36 with a 14-month-old, and I can't carry on like this. I need to be able to look after her. I also work nights, so I don't know if that is contributing to anything. I'm guessing it's time to try something else..."

• Bar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 11, 2025

Empagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "I only took this for two weeks, it made me so tired. All I wanted to do was sleep. I had no energy to do anything. I have stopped taking it and feel so much better, more my normal self."

• Bar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 11, 2025

Empagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "I only took this for two weeks, it made me so tired. All I wanted to do was sleep. I had no energy to do anything. I have stopped taking it and feel so much better, more my normal self."

• Hif...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 26, 2018

Empagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "I had all side effects. Dizzy, lethargic, hard to focus, lightheadedness. Wasn’t worth the potential benefits, only took it for one week."