empagliflozin
Brand names: Jardiance
Synjardy is a combination of two medicines, empagliflozin and metformin. It helps lower blood sugar in adults and children 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes, along with diet and exercise.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$19.55/unit
Generic Available
No
BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Synjardy is used to improve blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes.
Common side effects
Urinary tract infection, Yeast infection (in women), Diarrhea
Key warnings
Metformin, one of the drugs in Synjardy, can cause a serious side effect called lactic acidosis.
How It Works
Empagliflozin helps your kidneys remove sugar from your blood through urine. Metformin lowers the amount of sugar your liver makes and helps your body use insulin better. Together, they help lower your blood sugar levels.
How to Take It
Take Synjardy twice daily with meals. Take Synjardy XR once daily with a morning meal. Swallow the tablets whole; do not crush, split, or chew them. Your doctor may increase your dose slowly to reduce stomach problems from metformin. Make sure to have your kidney function checked before starting Synjardy.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Synjardy may harm your unborn baby, especially during the second and third trimesters. It is not recommended to use Synjardy while breastfeeding. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time.
Storage
Store Synjardy at room temperature, between 68°F to 77°F.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 27,577 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 61,560 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2013–2025.
Total Reports
61,560
Death-Related Reports
3,028
Hospitalization Reports
20,281
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DIABETIC KETOACIDOSIS | 3,773 |
| 2 | NAUSEA | 3,212 |
| 3 | BLOOD GLUCOSE INCREASED | 3,043 |
| 4 | DIARRHOEA | 2,806 |
| 5 | WEIGHT DECREASED | 2,749 |
| 6 | FATIGUE | 2,590 |
| 7 | DIZZINESS | 2,417 |
| 8 | OFF LABEL USE | 2,407 |
| 9 | VOMITING | 2,399 |
| 10 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 2,181 |
| 11 | DYSPNOEA | 2,076 |
| 12 | FUNGAL INFECTION | 2,057 |
| 13 | EUGLYCAEMIC DIABETIC KETOACIDOSIS | 1,935 |
| 14 | URINARY TRACT INFECTION | 1,814 |
| 15 | HEADACHE | 1,680 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Metformin, one of the drugs in Synjardy, can cause a serious side effect called lactic acidosis. This is a buildup of lactic acid in your blood. Get medical help right away if you have symptoms like weakness, muscle pain, trouble breathing, or stomach pain. Some people should not take Synjardy because of the risk of lactic acidosis. These include people with kidney problems, liver problems, or who drink a lot of alcohol.
Known Drug Interactions
Drugs that Reduce Metformin Clearance Clinical Impact Concomitant use of drugs that interfere with common renal tubular transport systems involved in the renal elimination of metformin (e.g., organic cationic transporter-2 [OCT2] / multidrug and toxin extrusion [MATE] inhibitors such as ranolazine, vandetanib, dolutegravir, and cimetidine) could increase systemic exposure to metformin and may increase the risk for lactic acidosis [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Alcohol Clinical Impact Alcohol is known to potentiate the effect of metformin on lactate metabolism. ( 7 ) Drugs that Reduce...
Mechanism: Using these medicines together can increase the risk of a dangerous buildup of lactic acid in the blood. This risk is higher when other factors, such as alcohol, change how the body handles metformin.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor you for signs of acid buildup and may need to adjust your treatment plan.
Drugs that Reduce Metformin Clearance Clinical Impact Concomitant use of drugs that interfere with common renal tubular transport systems involved in the renal elimination of metformin (e.g., organic cationic transporter-2 [OCT2] / multidrug and toxin extrusion [MATE] inhibitors such as ranolazine, vandetanib, dolutegravir, and cimetidine) could increase systemic exposure to metformin and may increase the risk for lactic acidosis [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] .
Mechanism: Dolutegravir blocks the kidneys from removing metformin from the body. This can cause metformin levels to rise, which increases the risk of a serious condition called lactic acidosis.
What to do: Your doctor may need to adjust your dose or monitor you more closely for side effects.
Drugs that Reduce Metformin Clearance Clinical Impact Concomitant use of drugs that interfere with common renal tubular transport systems involved in the renal elimination of metformin (e.g., organic cationic transporter-2 [OCT2] / multidrug and toxin extrusion [MATE] inhibitors such as ranolazine, vandetanib, dolutegravir, and cimetidine) could increase systemic exposure to metformin and may increase the risk for lactic acidosis [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] .
Mechanism: Ranolazine interferes with how the kidneys clear metformin from your system. This can lead to higher levels of metformin in your blood and a higher risk of a dangerous acid buildup.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor your blood levels closely and may need to change your medication dose.
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS See Table 4 for clinically relevant interactions with SYNJARDY or SYNJARDY XR. Table 4 Clinically Relevant Interactions with SYNJARDY or SYNJARDY XR Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors Clinical Impact Topiramate or other carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (e.g., zonisamide, acetazolamide or dichlorphenamide) frequently causes a decrease in serum bicarbonate and induce non-anion gap, hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis. Concomitant use of these drugs with SYNJARDY or SYNJARDY XR may increase the risk of lactic acidosis.
Mechanism: Taking certain medications like topiramate along with your diabetes medicine can lower your blood's ability to balance acid. This increases the risk of a serious condition called lactic acidosis.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor your blood work closely to check for signs of too much acid.
Drugs that Reduce Metformin Clearance Clinical Impact Concomitant use of drugs that interfere with common renal tubular transport systems involved in the renal elimination of metformin (e.g., organic cationic transporter-2 [OCT2] / multidrug and toxin extrusion [MATE] inhibitors such as ranolazine, vandetanib, dolutegravir, and cimetidine) could increase systemic exposure to metformin and may increase the risk for lactic acidosis [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] .
Mechanism: Cimetidine stops the kidneys from getting rid of metformin as quickly as they should. This can cause metformin to build up in your blood and increase the risk of a serious acid problem.
What to do: Your doctor may need to monitor you more frequently or adjust your medication levels.
Common Questions
What should I do if I experience side effects?
Can I drink alcohol while taking Synjardy?
Will Synjardy cause me to lose weight?
How often will I need blood tests?
Can Synjardy be used for type 1 diabetes?
What if I need surgery?
Does Synjardy interact with other medications?
How will I know if Synjardy is working?
What are the symptoms of low blood sugar?
Is there a generic version of Synjardy?
What are the common side effects of empagliflozin?
Does empagliflozin interact with other medications?
What drug class is empagliflozin?
Is empagliflozin safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in SGLT2 Inhibitor
Other drugs grouped near empagliflozin — same-class peers and common alternatives.
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What the FDA Data Shows for empagliflozin
The FDA label for empagliflozin (sold under brand names such as Jardiance) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the SGLT2 Inhibitor class. Synjardy is used to improve blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes. Official labeling lists 10 commonly reported side effects, including Urinary tract infection, Yeast infection (in women), Diarrhea.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 27,577 voluntary reports. The database also lists 10 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. NADAC pricing from CMS.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: January 30, 2026
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages