Empagliflozin and metformin
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Boxed warning
WARNING: LACTIC ACIDOSIS Postmarketing cases of metformin-associated lactic acidosis have resulted in death, hypothermia, hypotension, and resistant bradyarrhythmias. The onset of metformin-associated lactic acidosis is often subtle, accompanied only by nonspecific symptoms such as malaise, myalgias, respiratory distress, somnolence, and abdominal pain. Metformin-associated lactic acidosis was characterized by elevated blood lactate levels (>5 mmol/Liter), anion gap acidosis (without evidence of ketonuria or ketonemia), an increased lactate/pyruvate ratio; and metformin plasma levels generally >5 mcg/mL [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] .
Risk factors for metformin-associated lactic acidosis include renal impairment, concomitant use of certain drugs (e.g., carbonic anhydrase inhibitors such as topiramate), age 65 years old or greater, having a radiological study with contrast, surgery and other procedures, hypoxic states (e.g., acute congestive heart failure), excessive alcohol intake, hepatic impairment, and mitochondrial diseases [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] .
Steps to reduce the risk of and manage metformin-associated lactic acidosis in these high risk groups are provided in the full prescribing information [see Dosage and Administration (2.1) , Contraindications (4) , Warnings and Precautions (5.1) , Drug Interactions (7) , and Use in Specific Populations (8.6 , 8.7) ]. If metformin-associated lactic acidosis is suspected, immediately discontinue SYNJARDY or SYNJARDY XR and institute general supportive measures in a hospital setting. Prompt hemodialysis is recommended [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ]. WARNING: LACTIC ACIDOSIS See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning.
Postmarketing cases of metformin-associated lactic acidosis have resulted in death, hypothermia, hypotension, and resistant bradyarrhythmias. Symptoms included malaise, myalgias, respiratory distress, somnolence, and abdominal pain. Laboratory abnormalities included elevated blood lactate levels, anion gap acidosis, increased lactate/pyruvate ratio; and metformin plasma levels generally >5 mcg/mL. ( 5.1 ) Risk factors include renal impairment, concomitant use of certain drugs, age ≥65 years old, radiological studies with contrast, surgery and other procedures, hypoxic states, excessive alcohol intake, hepatic impairment, and mitochondrial diseases.
Steps to reduce the risk of and manage metformin-associated lactic acidosis in these high risk groups are provided in the Full Prescribing Information. ( 5.1 ) If lactic acidosis is suspected, discontinue…
Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitor
Dosing in kidney impairment
Testing Prior to Initiation of SYNJARDY or SYNJARDY XR Assess renal function before initiating SYNJARDY or SYNJARDY XR and as clinically indicated [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1 , 5.3) ] . Assess volume status. In patients with volume depletion, correct this condition before initiating SYNJARDY or SYNJARDY XR [see Warnings and Precautions and Use in Specific Populations (8.5 , 8.6) ] .
Dosage Recommendations in Patients with Renal Impairment Initiation of SYNJARDY or SYNJARDY XR is not recommended in patients with an eGFR less than 45 mL/min/1.73 m 2 , due to the metformin HCl component. SYNJARDY and SYNJARDY XR are contraindicated in patients with an eGFR less than 30 mL/min/1.73 m 2 [see Contraindications , Warnings and Precautions , and Use in Specific Populations ] .
Dosing in liver impairment
Hepatic Impairment Use of metformin HCl in patients with hepatic impairment has been associated with some cases of lactic acidosis. SYNJARDY and SYNJARDY XR are not recommended in patients with hepatic impairment [see Warnings and Precautions ].
Preparation and administration
Recommended Dosage and Administration of SYNJARDY or SYNJARDY XR in Adults When switching to SYNJARDY or SYNJARDY XR from: Metformin HCl: initiate SYNJARDY or SYNJARDY XR at a similar total daily dosage of metformin HCl and a total daily empagliflozin dosage of 10 mg. Empagliflozin: initiate SYNJARDY or SYNJARDY XR at the same total daily dosage of empagliflozin and a total daily metformin HCl dosage of 1,000 mg.
Empagliflozin and metformin HCl: initiate SYNJARDY or SYNJARDY XR at the same total daily dosages of each component. Recommended dosage of SYNJARDY or SYNJARDY XR: The recommended total daily dosage of empagliflozin is 10 mg. For additional glycemic control, empagliflozin may be increased to a maximum total daily dosage of 25 mg in patients tolerating 10 mg daily and metformin HCl may be increased to a maximum total daily dosage of 2,000 mg, with gradual escalation to reduce gastrointestinal adverse reactions with metformin HCl [see Adverse Reactions ].
Take SYNJARDY orally twice daily with meals. Take SYNJARDY XR orally once daily with a meal in the morning. Swallow each tablet whole. Do not split, crush, dissolve, or chew.
Recommended Dosage and Administration of SYNJARDY in Pediatric Patients Aged 10 Years and Older Individualize the dosage of SYNJARDY based on the patient's current regimen. Monitor effectiveness and tolerability, and adjust dosage as appropriate, not to exceed the maximum total daily dosage of empagliflozin 25 mg and metformin HCl 2,000 mg .
Take SYNJARDY orally twice daily with meals; with gradual dose escalation to reduce gastrointestinal adverse reactions with metformin HCl [see Adverse Reactions ].
Drug interactions
Check empagliflozin and metformin against a medication listLabel text (7 paragraphs)
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. Intervention Consider more frequent monitoring of these patients.
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) ] . Intervention Consider the benefits and risks of concomitant use. Alcohol Clinical Impact Alcohol is known to potentiate the effect of metformin on lactate metabolism.
Intervention Warn patients against excessive alcohol intake while receiving SYNJARDY or SYNJARDY XR. Diuretics Clinical Impact Coadministration of empagliflozin with diuretics resulted in increased urine volume and frequency of voids, which might enhance the potential for volume depletion. Intervention Before initiating SYNJARDY or SYNJARDY XR, assess volume status and renal function. In patients with volume depletion, correct this condition before initiating SYNJARDY or SYNJARDY XR. Monitor for signs and symptoms of volume depletion, and renal function after initiating therapy.
Insulin or Insulin Secretagogues Clinical Impact The risk of hypoglycemia is increased when SYNJARDY or SYNJARDY XR is used in combination with insulin secretagogues (e.g., sulfonylurea) or insulin. Intervention Coadministration of SYNJARDY or SYNJARDY XR with an insulin secretagogue (e.g., sulfonylurea) or insulin may require lower dosages of the insulin secretagogue or insulin to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia. Drugs Affecting Glycemic Control Clinical Impact Certain drugs tend to produce hyperglycemia and may lead to loss of glycemic control.
These drugs include the thiazides and other diuretics, corticosteroids, phenothiazines, thyroid products, estrogens, oral contraceptives, phenytoin, nicotinic acid, sympathomimetics, calcium channel blocking drugs, and isoniazid. Intervention When such drugs are administered to a patient receiving SYNJARDY or SYNJARDY XR, the patient should be closely observed to maintain adequate glycemic control. When such drugs are withdrawn from a patient receiving SYNJARDY or SYNJARDY XR, the patient should be observed closely for hypoglycemia. Lithium Clinical Impact Concomitant use of an SGLT2 inhibitor with lithium may decrease serum lithium concentrations.
Intervention Monitor serum lithium concentration more frequently during SYNJARDY or SYNJARDY XR initiation and dosage changes. Positive Urine Glucose Test Clinical Impact SGLT2 inhibitors increase urinary glucose excretion and will lead to positive urine glucose tests. Intervention Monitoring glycemic control with urine glucose tests is not recommended in patients taking SGLT2 inhibitors. Use alternative methods to monitor glycemic control. Interference with 1,5-anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG) Assay Clinical Impact Measurements of 1,5-AG are unreliable in assessing glycemic control in patients taking SGLT2 inhibitors. Intervention Monitoring glycemic control with 1,5-AG assay is not recommended.
Use alternative methods to monitor glycemic control. Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors: May increase risk of lactic acidosis. Consider more frequent monitoring. ( 7 ) Drugs that Reduce Metformin Clearance: May increase risk of lactic acidosis. Consider benefits and risks of concomitant use. ( 7 ) See full prescribing information for additional drug interactions and information on interference of SYNJARDY or SYNJARDY XR with laboratory tests. ( 7 )
Supplement interactions
Dietary supplement interactions
4 noted- Metformin, an antihyperglycemic agent used as first-line treatment for prediabetes and diabetes, might reduce the absorption of vitamin B12 and significantly reduce serum vitamin B12 concentrations.
- Large doses of nicotinic acid can raise blood glucose levels by causing or aggravating insulin resistance and increasing hepatic production of glucose. 5 g/day or more are most likely to increase blood glucose levels in individuals with or without diabetes.
- The results from some studies indicate that chromium supplementation might lower blood glucose levels. Therefore, chromium supplements might have an additive effect with metformin or other antidiabetes medications and thus might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
- Ashwagandha might also interact with antidiabetes medications, antihypertensives, immunosuppressants, and sedatives.
Contraindications
4 CONTRAINDICATIONS SYNJARDY and SYNJARDY XR are contraindicated in patients with: severe renal impairment (eGFR less than 30 mL/min/1.73 m 2 ) [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) and Use in Specific Populations (8.6) ]. acute or chronic metabolic acidosis, including diabetic ketoacidosis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ]. hypersensitivity to empagliflozin, metformin HCl or any of the excipients in SYNJARDY or SYNJARDY XR, reactions such as angioedema have occurred [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7) ] .
Severe renal impairment (eGFR below 30 mL/min/1.73 m 2 ) ( 4 ) Metabolic acidosis, including diabetic ketoacidosis ( 4 ) Hypersensitivity to empagliflozin, metformin HCl or any of the excipients in SYNJARDY or SYNJARDY XR ( 4 )
Safety data
Reported adverse events (FAERS)
Liver injury (LiverTox)
LiverTox has no chapter for empagliflozin and metformin. Check the label's hepatic warnings.
Pregnancy and lactation
Pregnancy
8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary Based on animal data showing adverse renal effects from empagliflozin, SYNJARDY and SYNJARDY XR are not recommended during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. The limited available data with SYNJARDY, SYNJARDY XR, or empagliflozin in pregnant women are not sufficient to determine a drug-associated risk for major birth defects and miscarriage. Published studies with metformin HCl use during pregnancy have not reported a clear association with metformin HCl and major birth defect or miscarriage risk (see Data ) . There are risks to the mother and fetus associated with poorly controlled diabetes in pregnancy (see Clinical Considerations ) .
In animal studies, empagliflozin, a component of SYNJARDY and SYNJARDY XR, resulted in adverse renal changes in rats when administered during a period of renal development corresponding to the late second and third trimesters of human pregnancy. Doses approximately 13-times the maximum clinical dose caused renal pelvic and tubule dilatations that were reversible. No adverse developmental effects were observed when metformin HCl was administered to pregnant rats or rabbits (see Data ) . The estimated background risk of major birth defects is 6% to 10% in women with pre-gestational diabetes with a HbA1c >7 and has been reported to be as high as 20% to 25% in women with HbA1c >10.
The estimated background risk of miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively. Clinical Considerations Disease-associated maternal and/or embryo/fetal risk Poorly controlled diabetes in pregnancy increases the maternal risk for diabetic ketoacidosis, pre-eclampsia, spontaneous abortions, preterm delivery, and delivery complications. Poorly controlled diabetes increases the fetal risk for major birth defects, stillbirth, and macrosomia related morbidity.
Data Human Data Published data from postmarketing studies have not reported a clear association with metformin HCl and major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes when metformin HCl was used during pregnancy. However, these studies cannot definitely establish the absence of any metformin-associated risk because of methodological limitations, including small sample size and inconsistent comparator groups. Animal Data Empagliflozin: Empagliflozin dosed directly to juvenile rats from postnatal day (PND) 21 until PND 90 at doses of 1, 10, 30, and 100…
For breastfeeding, also see LactMed (National Library of Medicine), which summarizes milk levels and infant effects.
Supply and cost
Drug shortage status
Recalls (last 24 months)
Therapeutic equivalence (Orange Book)
Price ladder
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