Empagliflozin Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Warnings

Brand names: Jardiance

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Aug 28, 2023.

Empagliflozin Pregnancy Warnings

Avoid use; especially during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy

AU TGA pregnancy category: D
US FDA pregnancy category: Not Assigned

Risk Summary: There is insufficient data in pregnant women to determine a drug-associated risk for major birth defects and miscarriage; animal data has shown adverse renal effects with administration during the renal development period which corresponds to the late second and third trimesters of human pregnancy

Comment: Poorly controlled diabetes during pregnancy increases maternal and fetal risks of adverse outcomes.

Animal studies have revealed evidence of adverse renal changes when rats received doses approximately 13 times the maximum clinical dose during a period of renal development corresponding to late second and third trimester of human pregnancy. Adverse renal changes including renal pelvic and tubule dilations were reversible. Teratogenicity was not observed in rats or rabbits at doses estimated to be up to 48-times and 128-times the maximum recommended human dose administered during organogenesis. Rats receiving maternally toxic doses, showed malformations of limb bones. Animal studies do not indicate direct or indirect harmful effects with respect to fertility. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy.

Poorly controlled diabetes during pregnancy increases the maternal risk for diabetic ketoacidosis, pre-eclampsia, spontaneous abortions, preterm delivery, stillbirth, and delivery complications; poorly controlled diabetes increases the fetal risk for major birth defects, stillbirth, and macrosomia related morbidity.

AU TGA pregnancy category D: Drugs which have caused, are suspected to have caused or may be expected to cause, an increased incidence of human fetal malformations or irreversible damage. These drugs may also have adverse pharmacological effects. Accompanying texts should be consulted for further details.

US FDA pregnancy category Not Assigned: The US FDA has amended the pregnancy labeling rule for prescription drug products to require labeling that includes a summary of risk, a discussion of the data supporting that summary, and relevant information to help health care providers make prescribing decisions and counsel women about the use of drugs during pregnancy. Pregnancy categories A, B, C, D, and X are being phased out.

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Empagliflozin Breastfeeding Warnings

Use is not recommended

Excreted into human milk: Unknown
Excreted into animal milk: Yes

Comments:
-Women should be advised to avoid breastfeeding because of the potential for this drug to affect postnatal renal development.
-This drug is not expected to pass into breastmilk in clinically relevant amounts due to a high level of plasma protein binding.

While it is unknown if this drug is excreted into human milk, there is potential for serious harm to the developing kidney if the breastfed infant is exposed. Human kidney maturation occurs in utero and during the first 2 years of life. This drug was found in rat milk and appears to accumulate. Juvenile rats directly exposed to this drug have shown renal pelvic and tubular dilations during maturation.

See references

Further information

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