Dapagliflozin

Dapagliflozin is a prescription medication used to control blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Dapagliflozin is part of a new class of drugs that work in the kidney to block a protein called SGLT2. By blocking this protein, the drug can remove excess glucose (sugar) and calories in the urine, which then helps lower blood sugar levels.

This medication comes in tablet form and is usually taken once daily. Dapagliflozin tablets should be swallowed whole and can be taken with or without food.

Common side effects of dapagliflozin include low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), yeast infections of the penis or vagina, and back ache.

Dapagliflozin is a prescription medication used to treat type 2 diabetes in adult patients (18 years of age and older).

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Dapagliflozin may be found in some form under the following brand names:

• Farxiga

• low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia) when taking this medicine with a sulfonylurea or insulin. Signs of low blood sugar:
  • shaking, sweating, feeling very anxious, fast heart beat
  • feeling hungry, headache, change in vision
  • a change in your mood or feeling confused.

This is not a complete list of dapagliflozin side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

• if you are taking a medicine used to remove water from the body (a diuretic or "water pill")
• if you are taking other medicines that lower the amount of sugar in your blood such as insulin or a “sulfonylurea” medication
• valsartan (Diovan, Exforge, Valturna)
• rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
• mefenamic acid (Ponstel)

​This is not a complete list of dapagliflozin drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Dapagliflozin can cause serious side effects including:

• loss of too much fluid from your body (dehydration). Signs of dehydration include:
  • extreme thirst
  • feeling very sleepy or tired
  • passing little or no water (urine)
  • fast heart beat
• urinary tract infection. Signs of a severe infection of the urinary tract include:
  • fever and/or chills
  • burning sensation when passing water (urinating)
  • pain in your back or side

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of dapagliflozin, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

• have type 1 diabetes
• have increased levels of “ketone bodies” in your urine or blood, seen in tests
• have a kidney problem 
• have a liver problem
• have a history of serious heart disease or if you have had a stroke
• are are on medicines to lower your blood pressure (anti-hypertensives) and have a history of low blood pressure (hypotension) 
• have very high levels of glucose in your blood which may make you dehydrated
• have or develop nausea (feeling sick), vomiting or fever or if you are not able to eat or drink. These conditions can cause dehydration.
• often get infections of the urinary tract
• are 75 years old or older
• are taking another medicine for diabetes that contains “pioglitazone”
• have an increase in the amount of red blood cells in your blood, seen in tests
• are pregnant or breastfeeding

Tell your doctor about all of the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

This medication falls into category C. In animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication and had some babies born with problems. No well-controlled studies have been done in humans. Therefore, this medication may be used if the potential benefits to the mother outweigh the potential risks to the unborn child.

Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not use dapagliflozin if you are breastfeeding. It is not known if this medicine passes into human breast milk.

Take dapagliflozin exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it.

• Do not change your dose of dapagliflozin without talking to your healthcare provider.

• Take dapagliflozin by mouth 1 time each day, with or without food.

• When your body is under some types of stress, such as fever, trauma (such as a car accident), infection, or surgery, the amount of diabetes medicine you need may change. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these conditions and follow your healthcare provider’s instructions.

• Stay on your prescribed diet and exercise program while taking dapagliflozin.

• Your healthcare provider may do certain blood tests before you start dapagliflozin and during your treatment.

• Your healthcare provider will check your diabetes with regular blood tests, including your blood sugar levels and your A1c.

• Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions for treating low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Talk to your healthcare provider if low blood sugar is a problem for you.

• 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 the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take 2 doses of dapagliflozin at the same time.

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the following:

• the condition being treated
• other medical conditions you have
• other medications you are taking
• how you respond to this medication
• your weight
• your height
• your age
• your gender

The recommended dose is one 10 mg tablet each day. Your doctor may start you on a 5 mg dose if you have a liver problem.

If you take too much dapagliflozin call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

• Keep this and all medications out of the reach of children.