Does Jardiance cause weight loss?
Key Points
Yes, Jardiance can help patients with type 2 diabetes lose weight, but this is not an approved use. In 24-week long clinical studies in adults, weight loss with Jardiance treatment alone was found to be statistically significant and ranged between a 2% and 3% weight loss.
Jardiance is not FDA approved to be used for weight loss in patients without type 2 diabetes, but can lead to weight loss in some patients.
In clinical trials, Jardiance also led to statistically significant reductions in A1C and fasting plasma glucose, measures of blood sugar control, when compared to an inactive placebo. Jardiance is classified as an SGLT-2 inhibitor and carries a low risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
In studies, adult patients taking the 10 mg dose of Jardiance (empagliflozin) had an average weight loss of 2.8% from their baseline weight (their weight at the start of the study). Those receiving the 25 mg tablet had an average weight loss of 3.2% of their baseline weight. The group who received an inactive placebo had a weight loss of 0.4%.
- As an example, in a 200 lb (91 kg) person, a 2.8% weight loss with the 10 mg dose is equal to roughly 5.6 lbs (2.6 kg).
- In a 200 lb (91 kg) person, a 3.2% weight loss with the 25 mg dose is about a 6.4 lb (2.9 kg).
What is Jardiance approved for?
Jardiance is used to help control glucose (blood sugar) in adults and children 10 years of age and older with type 2 diabetes. Jardiance is also FDA-approved to lower the risk of:
- cardiovascular (heart-related) death in adults with heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
- cardiovascular death and hospitalization for heart failure (when the heart is weak and cannot pump enough blood to the body) in adults with heart failure.
- kidney function decline, kidney failure, cardiovascular death and hospitalizations in adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD) at risk of progression.
Your doctor will need to test your kidney function before you start this treatment.
Jardiance is an oral tablet taken once-a-day in the morning, with or without food, and is used in addition to diet and exercise. Your doctor may adjust your dose so always follow their directions. For added blood sugar control if you tolerate the 10 mg dose, your doctor may increase the dose to 25 mg once daily in the morning.
Only the 10 mg once daily in the morning dose is approved for use in chronic kidney disease.
Jardiance can be added to other medicines for type 2 diabetes treatment in some such as metformin, sulfonylureas, pioglitazone, and insulin, if needed.
Jardiance, classified as a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor, is manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly.
Guidelines
According to the Standards of Care in Diabetes from the American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee, SGLT-2 inhibitors like Jardiance are recommended as treatment for:
- Patients with type 2 diabetes and established or high risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, heart failure (HF), and/or chronic kidney disease (CKD).
- Adults with type 2 diabetes who have HF (with either reduced or preserved ejection fraction) for glycemic (blood sugar) management and prevention of HF hospitalizations.
- Adults with type 2 diabetes who have CKD to minimize progression of CKD, reduction in cardiovascular events, and reduction in hospitalizations for HF (with confirmed estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] of 20–60 mL/min per 1.73 m2 and/or albuminuria).
Will I still lose weight if I take Jardiance with metformin?
Yes, you may lose weight if you are taking metformin in combination with Jardiance. In a 24-week long clinical study with over 600 adults, Jardiance given as add-on therapy to metformin significantly improved weight loss. These patients were not adequately controlled on metformin alone.
Table 1. Weight changes for Jardiance when used with metformin
| Jardiance 10 mg + metformin | Jardiance 25 mg + metformin | Placebo + metformin | |
| Baseline weight | 82 kg (180.4 lbs) | 82 kg (180.4 lbs) | 80 kg (176 lbs) |
| % change from baseline (mean) | -2.5% | -2.9% | -0.5% |
| Difference from placebo (mean) | -2.0 (95% CI; -2.6, -1.4) | -2.5 (95% CI; -3.1, -1.9) | n/a |
Weight loss was also significant in a study over 24-weeks long when Jardiance was used in combination with metformin and a sulfonylurea compared to placebo. Overall, patients in the Jardiance group lost an average of 2.9% to 3.2% of their body weight from the start of the study, compared to the placebo group which lost 0.5% (p<0.0001).
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How does Jardiance affect my blood pressure?
Jardiance is not specifically FDA-approved to reduce blood pressure, but a positive effect was seen in 24-week clinical trials. Blood pressure was lowered whether Jardiance was used alone (as monotherapy) or with metformin.
- When used alone, the systolic blood pressure (the top number) was statistically significantly reduced compared to placebo by -2.6 mmHg in patients taking the 10 mg dose of Jardiance.
- In adult patients taking the 25 mg dose of Jardiance, systolic blood pressure was statistically reduced by -3.4 mmHg.
Review How does Jardiance help with heart failure? to learn more about how Jardiance can help people with heart failure.
Important side effects with Jardiance
Jardiance is usually well-tolerated in patients with type 2 diabetes. However, as with all drugs, there are important side effects you should review with your doctor.
Serious side effects:
- allergic reactions
- amputations (lower limbs)
- dehydration
- increased cholesterol levels
- genital fungal (yeast) infections, in men and women
- ketoacidosis (increased ketones in your blood or urine)
- low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
- necrotizing fasciitis (a rare, serious tissue infection around the anus and genitals)
- sudden kidney injury
- urinary tract infections
- increased cholesterol
Low blood sugar can happen more often when Jardiance is taken with certain other diabetes medicines.
In studies in children 10 years and older, the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) was higher with Jardiance whether or not they used insulin. Otherwise, the safety profile of treated children was similar to that observed in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Common side effects (5% or more of patients):
- urinary tract infections
- female vaginal yeast infections
Bottom Line
Jardiance can lead to moderate weight loss in adults when taken alone or when combined with other medications, including metformin or a sulfonylurea. Overall, you may lose 2% to 3% of your weight on average, although this is variable and can be affected by many factors, such as diet and exercise. Not everyone will lose weight.
Jardiance can also have a positive effect on heart (cardiovascular) and kidney outcomes in adults and lower the risk for hospitalization or a heart-related death. Positive effects on blood pressure, kidney health, weight goals, and risks for hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) have been seen. It can reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization for heart failure in adults with heart failure.
Overall, Jardiance is a well-tolerated, once daily oral treatment for type 2 diabetes, often used as an add-on treatment to metformin. As with most medicines, common side effects can occur, including genital yeast infections and urinary tract infections. Be sure to discuss all possible side effects with your doctor.
This is not all the information you need to know about Jardiance for safe and effective use and does not replace your doctor's advice. Review the full product information and speak to your health care provider if you have questions or concerns before you start treatment.
References
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American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee; 9. Pharmacologic Approaches to Glycemic Treatment: Standards of Care in Diabetes—2024. Diabetes Care 1 January 2024; 47 (Supplement_1): S158–S178. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc24-S009; Erratum. 9. Pharmacologic Approaches to Glycemic Treatment: Standards of Care in Diabetes—2024. Diabetes Care 2024;47(Suppl. 1):S158–S178
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Häring HU, Merker L, Seewaldt-Becker E, et al. Empagliflozin as add-on to metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes: a 24-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Diabetes Care 2014;37:1650-1659
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Tikkanen I, Narko K, Zeller C, et al. Empagliflozin reduces blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Diabetes Care 2015;38:420-428.
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Jardiance [package insert]. Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Ridgefield, CT. Revised 9/2023. Accessed July 23, 2025 at https://pro.boehringer-ingelheim.com/us/products/jardiance/bipdf/jardiance-us-prescribing-information
Read next
Can Jardiance cause kidney problems?
Research suggests it is unlikely for Jardiance to cause acute kidney injury. While uncommon, it is possible for Jardiance (empagliflozin) to cause kidney problems in some people. According to the prescribing information, there have been reports of kidney injury in some people who took Jardiance. Continue reading
How does Jardiance help with heart failure?
Jardiance may help with heart failure by improving your heart’s ability to pump blood throughout the body and deliver oxygen to tissues and organs. It may do this by reducing sodium (salt) and fluid retention, improving energy use by the heart, reducing inflammation and preventing or reversing cardiac enlargement.
Continue reading
What is Jardiance used for and how does it work?
Jardiance is a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor used with diet and exercise to help control blood sugar and protect the heart in people 10 years of age and older with type 2 diabetes. It lowers blood sugar by blocking proteins in the kidney to increase glucose excretion through the urine.
Continue readingSee also:
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Drug information
- Jardiance Information for Consumers
- Jardiance prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side Effects of Jardiance (detailed)
- Jardiance user reviews (330)
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