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Empagliflozin

curlyk

curlyk

Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
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She/Her
Hello,
I’ve been to meet my new DSN today (changed doctors surgeries - the perils of moving area) and they were very lovely, but have changed my medication.
I’m now taking one Empagliflozin and a statin each day, as well as 1500mg of metformin.
I was quite shocked by this, as my previous DSN was quite happy with me continuing on metformin. However, I digress!
As I was surprised, I didn’t ask about any side effects of these (I was just writing down when I should take them etc).
Does anyone know if Empagliflozin tends to cause hypos? I know metformin doesn’t, but gliclazide used to and I came off that very quickly, as it didn’t agree with me.
Many thanks for your wisdom as ever!
 
I was on Empagliflozin for a while. I had previously been on metformin and gliclazide. They stopped the gliclazide and used the empagliflzin instead. It doesn’t, as far as I know, cause hypos
 
There’s an overview page about Empagliflozin here, which may help:

Empagliflozin

Empagliflozin is a type of medication you might need to take if you have type 2 diabetes
www.diabetes.org.uk www.diabetes.org.uk

The ‘flozins’ work by encouraging the body to excrete more glucose in urine. So you may find you need the loo more often, and you may be more likely to get a yeast infection / thrush. It’s not commonly thought to cause hypos when not in combination with eg a sulphonylurea or insulin.

Hope you get on well with it. Let us know how it works out.
 
curlyk said:
Hello,
I’ve been to meet my new DSN today (changed doctors surgeries - the perils of moving area) and they were very lovely, but have changed my medication.
I’m now taking one Empagliflozin and a statin each day, as well as 1500mg of metformin.
I was quite shocked by this, as my previous DSN was quite happy with me continuing on metformin. However, I digress!
As I was surprised, I didn’t ask about any side effects of these (I was just writing down when I should take them etc).
Does anyone know if Empagliflozin tends to cause hypos? I know metformin doesn’t, but gliclazide used to and I came off that very quickly, as it didn’t agree with me.
Many thanks for your wisdom as ever!
Click to expand...
Empagliflozin works differently to Glicazide, the fact you weren't made aware of any possible side effects doesn’t sound right,
because in rare cases there can be some, I had a side effect myself although I have a good friend who has successfully continued to control his Diabetes very well since he started taking Empagliflozin.

I’ve still got a copy of what my surgery messaged me regarding Empagliflozin and other SGL2 inhibitions I will see if I can share it, but this info below is taken from NHS website https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/empagliflozin/common-questions-about-empagliflozin/ (hopefully link will work)
 
curlyk said:
As I was surprised, I didn’t ask about any side effects of these (I was just writing down when I should take them etc).
Click to expand...
Make sure you read the leaflet that comes with any medication before taking it. With empagliflozin you need to be aware of the signs of DKA as this can be a serious or even fatal (we’ve previously sadly had an example of this on the forum) side effect of this medication. It doesn’t generally cause hypos though.
 
Lucyr said:
Make sure you read the leaflet that comes with any medication before taking it. With empagliflozin you need to be aware of the signs of DKA as this can be a serious or even fatal (we’ve previously sadly had an example of this on the forum) side effect of this medication. It doesn’t generally cause hypos though.
Click to expand...
well highlighted @Lucyr the DKA risk is probably the worst one, hopefully others see the post and are aware of the risk

although as I’ve said regarding meds
we are all different and react differently to many different things, look at me, I’ve been taking Metformin for over 30 years without really any side effect (whereas quite a few have problems with Metformin)

for me the problem with Empagliflozin was a really bad case of UTI (despite my sugars not being excessively high at the time)
one of my customers who both her and her father were also not fans of Empagliflozin having had similar side effects - but a friend of mine got on really well with it 🙄

as someone I can’t remember who, once said “it’s a funny old world” at least I think those are famous words of someone famous
 
@curlyk I haven't checked the links you have been given. From September I was on 2 metformin a statin and dapaglifozin. The hcp was keen for me to take dapaglifozin as it is good for cardiovascular health and I have high blood pressure. I was also prescribed ketostix. I was told very rarely you can get ketoacidosis and if I felt unwell to test my urine. I definitely peed more including at night and having been happy eating low carb between 80 and 120 felt under pressure to up carbs and then eat too many. My hba1c at end of September was 51 and mid December 44. I was recently told I could drop 1 metformin or the dapaglifozin. I chose dropping 1 metformin as I was due an eye op and didn't want to rock the boat. My bg has been up and down last few weeks and last week I did check my keto but it was the lowest it could be.
I was warned about UTIs but have had no problems.
 
Lucyr said:
Make sure you read the leaflet that comes with any medication before taking it. With empagliflozin you need to be aware of the signs of DKA as this can be a serious or even fatal (we’ve previously sadly had an example of this on the forum) side effect of this medication. It doesn’t generally cause hypos though.
Click to expand...
I’ll second that, ended up being blue lighted into hospital with DKA and sepsis
 
Captainmartin said:
I’ll second that, ended up being blue lighted into hospital with DKA and sepsis
Click to expand...
I hope you’re a ok now. That must have been so frightening
 
Thank you for all of your advice and guidance. I’ve read the links and the leaflet, and taken my first one today.
Knowledge is power, so I’m watching out for the side effects, fingers crossed there aren’t any.
My original DSN gave me ketostix, so I have those at home ready to go if I feel unwell.
I have a phone call scheduled with the pharmacist next week, as it’s a new prescription and another with the DSN in three weeks.
Hopefully my HB1AC will drop further in the next three months
 
curlyk said:
I hope you’re a ok now. That must have been so frightening
Click to expand...
It was horrific, not only my personal experience but what was going on around me with the other patients. It just went from bad to worse. Not keen on going back to hospital again. Feeling a lot better now and feel like I’ve made some progress with my health.
 
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