Prescription medication · Biguanide / SGLT2 Combination

metformin/empagliflozin

Also sold as Synjardy. Synjardy is used to treat type 2 diabetes in adults and children 10 years and older.

Data updated 2026-05-15

164,328
FDA reports
9
InteractionsFew interactions
$9.77
Brand price (NADAC)

What the data shows

metformin/empagliflozin (Synjardy) is a prescription Biguanide / SGLT2 Combination, with 164,328 FDA adverse-event reports on file, with 9 documented drug interactions.

Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.

metformin/empagliflozin (Synjardy) is a prescription Biguanide / SGLT2 Combination. Synjardy is used to treat type 2 diabetes in adults and children 10 years and older.

Synjardy is a drug that combines empagliflozin and metformin. It helps lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, along with diet and exercise.

Drug Pricing (NADAC)

Brand Price

$9.77/unit

Generic Available

No

Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →

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What it does

Synjardy is used to treat type 2 diabetes in adults and children 10 years and older.

Common side effects

Urinary tract infections, Yeast infections of the vagina, Diarrhea

Key warnings

Metformin can cause a serious side effect called lactic acidosis.

The sections below are summarized in plain English from metformin/empagliflozin's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.

How It Works

Synjardy contains two medicines that work in different ways. 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.

Side Effects (from patient reports)

Based on 164,328 FDA adverse event reports.

Most-reported reactions

Adverse reactions in FAERS for metformin/empagliflozin, by number of reports

reports

What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.

Source FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS)

Serious Warnings

Metformin can cause a serious side effect called lactic acidosis. This is a buildup of lactic acid in your blood. It can be life-threatening. Get medical help right away if you have symptoms like feeling very weak, muscle pain, trouble breathing, stomach pain, dizziness, or a slow or irregular heartbeat.

Known Drug Interactions

moderate metformin

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...

Mechanism: Taking substances that interfere with how the kidneys remove metformin can cause the drug to build up to dangerous levels. This increases the risk of a serious condition where too much acid builds up in the blood.

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 specific pumps in the kidneys that remove metformin from the body. This can cause metformin levels to rise, increasing the risk of a dangerous acid buildup.

moderate ranolazine

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 stops the kidneys from filtering metformin out of the blood as quickly as they should. This can lead to high levels of metformin and a higher risk of side effects.

moderate cimetidine

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 interferes with the way your kidneys get rid of metformin, which can cause the drug to stay in your body longer. This increases the chance of developing a serious condition called lactic acidosis.

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.

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This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.

Common Questions

What should I do if I experience severe stomach pain?
Contact your doctor immediately, as this could be a sign of a serious side effect.
Can I drink alcohol while taking Synjardy?
Avoid excessive alcohol intake while taking Synjardy, as it can increase the risk of lactic acidosis.
Will Synjardy cause me to lose weight?
Weight loss is a possible side effect, but it varies from person to person.
How often will my doctor check my kidneys?
Your doctor will check your kidney function before you start Synjardy and as needed during treatment.
Can Synjardy be used for type 1 diabetes?
No, Synjardy is not for use in people with type 1 diabetes.
What if I need surgery?
Your doctor may have you stop Synjardy for a short time before and after surgery.
Does Synjardy interact with other medications?
Yes, Synjardy can interact with other medications. Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take.
What are the symptoms of low blood sugar?
Symptoms of low blood sugar can include shakiness, sweating, confusion, and dizziness.
How does Synjardy affect my heart?
Empagliflozin, one of the drugs in Synjardy, can lower the risk of heart-related death in some adults.
Can children take Synjardy?
Synjardy can be used in children 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes.
What are the common side effects of metformin/empagliflozin?
The registry lists Urinary tract infections, Yeast infections of the vagina, Diarrhea, Nausea, Vomiting among the most-reported FAERS reaction terms for metformin/empagliflozin. The compiled record contains 164,328 FDA adverse-event reports. These counts are not an individual symptom assessment.
Does metformin/empagliflozin interact with other medications?
The registry has 9 documented interaction rows for metformin/empagliflozin. Notable source-record pairings include metformin, dolutegravir, ranolazine. These rows are not a complete medication review.
What drug class is metformin/empagliflozin?
metformin/empagliflozin belongs to the Biguanide / SGLT2 Combination drug class. It requires a prescription (Rx). Synjardy is used to treat type 2 diabetes in adults and children 10 years and older.
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for metformin/empagliflozin?
The FDA label for metformin/empagliflozin contains product-specific pregnancy or breastfeeding language. PlainMeds does not apply that source text to an individual.

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What the FDA Data Shows for metformin/empagliflozin

The FDA label for metformin/empagliflozin (sold under brand names such as Synjardy) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Biguanide / SGLT2 Combination class. Synjardy is used to treat type 2 diabetes in adults and children 10 years and older. Official labeling lists 10 commonly reported side effects, including Urinary tract infections, Yeast infections of the vagina, Diarrhea.

Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 164,328 voluntary reports. The database also lists 9 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 are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.

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. This registry does not provide medication decisions.

Last updated: January 30, 2026

PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.

Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.

All federal data sources used on this page