Untreated hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) can lead to severe complications including permanent damage to your eyes, heart, nerves, blood vessels, and kidneys. It is important to maintain your blood sugar levels within the normal range to prevent these serious problems. One medication that your doctor may prescribe if you have T2DM is Farxiga (dapagliflozin). It is a once-daily oral medication manufactured by AstraZeneca that has been proven to help lower your hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) when used with diet and exercise.
In one clinical study, people taking Farxiga 5 mg and Metformin XR (up to 2000 mg per day) lowered their HbA1C by up to 2.1%. Metformin XR alone lowered A1C by 1.4%. People taking Farxiga also lost an average of 3% of their body weight.
In another clinical study that compared people taking Farxiga by itself to a placebo, Farxiga also successfully lowered HbA1C. After 24 weeks of treatment, those taking Farxiga 5 mg decreased their HbA1C by an average of 0.8%. People taking 10 mg of Farxiga decreased their HbA1C by an average of 0.9%. Those taking a placebo only lowered their HbA1C by an average of 0.2%. Between 44% to 51% of people participating in the study that took Farxiga also reached their HbA1C goal of less than 7%, while only 32% of those taking a placebo reached this goal.
Farxiga FAQs
What is Farxiga?
Farxiga (dapagliflozin) is a prescription medication that belongs to a drug class called sodium-glucose cotransporter 2, or SGLT-2 inhibitors. It is FDA-approved in adults to:
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Reduce your risk of hospitalization and cardiovascular death from heart failure if you have heart failure with a reduced ejection fraction (your heart is weak and cannot pump enough blood to the rest of your body).
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Decrease your chance of hospitalization from heart failure if you have T2DM and known cardiovascular disease (CVD) or have at least 1 cardiovascular risk factor.
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Lower your risk of worsening kidney disease, end-stage kidney disease, hospitalization, and cardiovascular death from heart failure if you have chronic kidney disease (CKD). It should not be used to treat CKD if you have polycystic kidney disease or if you recently used immunosuppressants for your kidney disease.
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Lower blood sugar levels along with a healthy diet and regular exercise in T2DM. It is not recommended to treat T2DM if you have a reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).
Farxiga is not approved to treat people with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) or diabetic ketoacidosis (increased ketones in your blood or urine).
How does Farxiga work?
Dapagliflozin, the active ingredient in Farxiga, blocks the sodium-glucose transport protein. This keeps sodium and sugar from being reabsorbed by your kidneys. More sugar is passed out of your body through your urine, which lowers your blood glucose levels. This may also help improve your heart's ability to pump blood throughout your body. The effects of dapagliflozin on your kidneys also help reduce the increased pressure and inflammation seen in people with CKD.
Are there any side effects with Farxiga?
The most common side effects of Farxiga include:
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Vaginal yeast infections
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Common cold symptoms
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Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Other side effects of Farixga can include:
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Back pain
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More frequent urination
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Increased cholesterol or fats in your blood
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Male genital yeast infections
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Flu-like symptoms
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Nausea
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Pain in your extremities
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Weight loss
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Constipation
Rarely, Farxiga may cause serious side effects such as:
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Serious allergic reactions including life-threatening anaphylaxis (hives, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat, and trouble breathing)
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Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), especially if taken with a sulfonylurea like Glucotrol (glipizide) or Amaryl (glimepiride)
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Volume depletion and other kidney problems which is more likely if you are taking a water pill (diuretic)
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Serious urinary tract infections (urosepsis and pyelonephritis) that may require hospitalization
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Fournier’s gangrene, a severe bacterial infection in the genital/anal area that may require medication, surgery, or hospitalization
These are not all of the possible side effects of Farxiga. You should always seek medical advice from a healthcare professional for any questions or concerns about your medical condition or treatment. You should also read all the patient and prescribing information, including your Medication Guide that comes with Farxiga. You can report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
What warnings and precautions are there with Farxiga?
You should not take Farxiga if you are allergic to dapagliflozin or any of the inactive ingredients in this product. You should also avoid Farxiga if you have severe kidney disease or are on dialysis.
You should be sure your healthcare provider is aware of all your medical conditions as you may need increased monitoring during treatment. This includes:
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Type 1 diabetes
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Diabetic ketoacidosis
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Heart disease
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Low blood pressure (hypotension)
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Kidney problems or impairment
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Liver disease
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Scheduled surgery
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Inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis)
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Are on a low-salt diet or are eating less
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Are a heavy drinker or a binge drinker
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History of UTIs or problems urinating
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Are pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant, as Farxiga may cause harm to your fetus and shouldn’t be used during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy
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Are breastfeeding or plan on breastfeeding, as it’s not known if this medication is found in breast milk and is not recommended for use during lactation
What drug interactions are there with Farxiga?
When Farxiga is taken with other prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and supplements, it may change how they work or increase the risk of side effects. Some drug interactions with Farxiga may include urine glucose tests and 1,5-AG assays.
What should you do if you miss a dose of Farxiga?
If you miss a dose of Farxiga, take it immediately after you remember. However, if it’s almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose. You can then take your next dose at the next scheduled time. Don’t take an extra dose of Farxiga to make up for a missed dose.
How much sugar does Farxiga remove?
Farxiga works by blocking sugar from getting reabsorbed by your kidneys. Instead, it is removed from your body in your urine. In a clinical trial of adults with T2DM, Farxiga was shown to remove around 70 grams of sugar in the urine per day at the end of 12 weeks.
How long does it take for Farxiga to start lowering blood sugar?
Farxiga will begin working a few hours after you take your first dose. However, it might take a full week or 2 for you to see the total effect on your blood sugar levels. You may not have had any noticeable diabetes symptoms, so you may not feel different when taking Farxiga. This does not mean that it is not working, so it is important you keep taking it.
Does Farxiga cause weight gain?
Most people who take Farxiga actually lose weight. It's thought that this is because it sends sugar from your blood into your urine. That means the calories from the sugar leave your body, which may lead to weight loss.
Clinical studies showed people taking either 5 mg or 10 mg of Farxiga alone lost around 6 pounds over 24 weeks. Studies also showed that the average weight loss among those taking Farxiga and metformin, another diabetes medication, was about 6-7 pounds over 24 weeks.
How do you store Farxiga?
Farxiga should be stored at room temperature between 68°F and 77°F (20°C and 25°C).
Related medications
Sources
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Farxiga: https://www.farxiga.com/side-effects
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Farxiga FAQs: https://www.farxiga.com/faq/
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FDA Package Insert: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2020/202293s020lbl.pdf
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Medscape: https://reference.medscape.com/drug/farxiga-dapagliflozin-999899#0
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Prescriber’s Digital Reference: https://pdr.net/drug-summary/Farxiga-dapagliflozin-3427
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NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/dapagliflozin/common-questions-about-dapagliflozin/
