Description
Description
Forxiga (dapagliflozin) is an oral diabetes medicine that helps control blood sugar levels. Dapagliflozin works by helping the kidneys get rid of glucose from your bloodstream. It is used together with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This medicine is not for treating type 1 diabetes and is not insulin and not a thiazolidinediones.
It is also used to lower the risk of death from a heart attack, stroke, or heart failure in adults with type 2 diabetes who also have heart disease. Ensure you speak to your doctor in detail about the medications you are taking. This includes weight loss medications, such as Trulicity and Saxenda.
Forxiga is also used to lower the risk of a further worsening of kidney disease, end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), death due to cardiovascular disease, and hospitalization for heart failure in adults with chronic kidney disease.
Warnings and Precautions
Warnings and Precautions
You should not use Farxiga if you have diabetic ketoacidosis, severe kidney disease, or if you are on dialysis.
Tell your doctor if you are sick with vomiting or diarrhea, or if you eat or drink less than usual.
Taking Farxiga can make you dehydrated, which could cause you to feel weak or dizzy (especially when you stand up).
Forxiga can cause serious infections in the penis or vagina. Get medical help right away if you have burning, itching, odor, discharge, pain, tenderness, redness or swelling of the genital or rectal area, fever, or if you don’t feel well.
Some people taking this medicine have had bladder cancer, but it is not clear if dapagliflozin was the actual cause.
Before Taking Farxiga
Before Taking Farxiga
You should not use Forxiga if you are allergic to dapagliflozin, have severe kidney disease (or dialysis) or have insulin ketoacidosis.
Please let your doctor know if you have ever had polycystic kidney disease, liver disease, bladder infections or other urination problems, problems with your pancreas, including surgery, alcoholism, or if you currently drink large amounts of alcohol, or if you are on a low salt diet.
Forxiga is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.
Usage
Usage
Forxiga assists the kidneys in reabsorbing sugar, preventing glucose from being reabsorbed in the bloodstream, and helps get rid of blood sugar through urine.
This medication also slows or stops the production of a protein called SGLT2 found in the kidneys.
Forxiga is unlike other medications typically used to treat type 2 diabetes which involve the hormone insulin.
Forxiga is also used to reduce the risk of worsening kidney disease, avoid hospitalization for heart failure in adults with kidney disease, end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), and lower the risk of death.
Forxiga can be used by itself or along with other medications.
Forxiga comes as a tablet you take by mouth once daily. It contains the active drug dapagliflozin. And it belongs to a class of medications called sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors.
Side Effects
Side Effects
Common side effects of Farxiga include back pain, constipation, increased cholesterol levels, increased urination, genital infection (for men), nausea, pain in your extremities, respiratory infections (i.e., common cold, flu), sore throat, stuffy or runny nose, urinary tract infection, vaginal yeast infection, vaginal changes such as itching, abnormal discharge, or odor or increased percentage of red blood cells in the blood.
Serious side effects associated with Forxiga include symptoms realted to dehydration (dizziness, feeling faint or lightheaded and weakness). It can also relate to low blood sugar sypmtoms (confusion, drowsiness, headache, hunger, feeling jittery, increased heartbeat, irritability, weakness, sweating, fournier’s gangrene, ketoacidosis, kidney damage, severe allergic reactions and serious urinary tract infections.
Allergic Reaction
Allergic Reaction
As with most drugs, some people can have an allergic reaction after taking Farxiga. In clinical studies, 0.3% of people who took Forxiga had an allergic reaction to it.
Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include skin rashes, itchiness, and flushing.
A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include swelling under your skin (typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet), swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat, which can lead to breathing difficulties.
Call your doctor right away if you have a severe allergic reaction to Forxiga. But call 911 if your symptoms feel life-threatening or if you think you have a medical emergency.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy
Follow your doctor’s instructions about using Forxiga if you are pregnant or you become pregnant. Controlling diabetes is very important during pregnancy. Do not breastfeed while on Forxiga.
It would be best if you did not use dapagliflozin during the second or third trimester of pregnancy.
Drug Interactions
Drug Interactions
Other drugs may increase or decrease the effects of Farxiga on lowering your blood sugar. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially insulin or a diuretic.
This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with dapagliflozin, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.
