How rapid is weight loss with Farxiga?

Aug 28, 2023

Farxiga (dapagliflozin) is a once-daily medication used to treat type 2 diabetes (T2DM), heart failure, and chronic kidney disease (CKD). While it is not FDA-approved as a weight-loss medication, weight loss can be a side effect of this drug. It is thought that Farxiga causes you to lose weight because it sends extra sugar (glucose) from your blood into your urine. That means you are removing extra calories from the sugar through your urine, which can lead to weight loss. Because of this possible effect, your healthcare provider may prescribe Farxiga if you have T2DM and suffer from obesity.

In one clinical study where the use of Farxiga was used as initial therapy with and without Metformin XR (another diabetes drug), weight loss was common after 24 weeks. People taking Farxiga 5 mg alone or along with Metformin XR lost an average of 6 pounds while those taking just Metformin XR lost around 3 pounds. People taking Farxiga 10 mg alone lost about 6 pounds while those taking it along with Metformin XR lost about 7.25 pounds. When Metformin XR was taken alone, it caused a 3-pound loss of body weight.

So how fast will you lose weight with Farxiga? This is hard to estimate as it will vary from person to person. Numerous other factors can affect how fast you lose weight. Some people might not lose any weight while on Farxiga. Others may lose more than the average because they are sticking to the recommended lifestyle changes along with Farxiga.

Farxiga FAQs

What are the side effects of Farxiga?

The most common side effects of Farxiga seen in clinical trials when compared to placebo include:

Vaginal yeast infections
Nasopharyngitis (common cold symptoms)
Urinary tract infections (UTIs)

Other side effects of Farixga may include:

Back pain
Weight loss
Increased urination
Male genital yeast infections
Increased cholesterol levels
Nausea
Constipation
Flu-like symptoms
Pain in your hands or feet

Rarely, Farxiga can cause serious side effects such as:

Severe, sometimes life-threatening allergic reactions (hives, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat, and trouble breathing
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), especially if taken with a sulfonylurea such as Glucotrol (glipizide) or other diabetes medications
Kidney problems, volume depletion, and dehydration, especially if you are taking a diuretic, have kidney disease, are 65 years of age or older, or are on a low-salt diet
Serious UTIs such as urosepsis and pyelonephritis

Disclaimer: 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 relating to your medical condition or treatment. You should also read all the patient 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 is Farxiga used for?

Farxiga (dapagliflozin) is an oral prescription medication manufactured by AstraZeneca that is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to:

Decrease your chance of hospitalization and death from heart failure if you are an adult with heart failure with a reduced ejection fraction.
Decrease your risk of heart failure if you are an adult with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and known cardiovascular disease or with more than 1 cardiovascular risk factor.
Reduce your risk of worsening kidney disease, end-stage kidney disease, hospitalization, and death from heart failure if you are an adult with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Lower blood sugar levels along with a healthy diet and regular exercise if you are an adult with T2DM.

Farxiga is not approved to treat type 1 diabetes (T1DM) or diabetic ketoacidosis (increased levels of ketones in your urine or blood).

What does Farxiga do?

The active ingredient in Farxiga is a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor called dapagliflozin. It helps you get rid of sodium and sugar through your urine by blocking their reabsorption in your kidneys.

For diabetic patients, this helps lower their blood sugar levels.

For heart failure patients, it decreases the work your heart has to do to circulate blood throughout your body. This will help improve symptoms of heart failure, including shortness of breath, swelling, and fatigue.

For CKD patients, Farxiga reduces the pressure and inflammation in their kidneys to help them work properly.

What should you tell your healthcare provider before taking Farxiga?

You should not take this medication if you have an allergy to dapagliflozin or to any of the inactive ingredients in this medication. 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:

Type 1 diabetes (T1DM) or diabetic ketoacidosis
Heart disease or low blood pressure (hypotension)
Liver or kidney problems
Having surgery
Inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis)
Changes in your diet or are eating less
Are a heavy drinker or you binge drink
History of urinary tract infections or urination problems
Are pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant as Farxiga may cause harm to your fetus
Are breastfeeding or plan on breastfeeding, as it’s not known if this medication is found in breast milk and it 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.

How long does it take Farxiga to show results?

Farxiga will start to lower your blood glucose levels around 2 hours after taking your first dose. However, it might take a couple of weeks for you to see the full effect it has on your glucose levels. Since some people do not have symptoms of diabetes, you may not feel any different when you take Farxiga. It doesn’t mean the medication isn’t working and you will need to continue taking it. Keeping your blood glucose levels within normal range decreases your risk of serious complications.

If you are taking Farxiga for heart failure, it could be a couple of months before you notice any symptom improvements. Even if you do not feel different, Farxiga reduces your risk of death and hospitalization from heart failure when taken every day.

If you're taking it for CKD, it may not seem like you have any improvements, but Farxiga will help slow down how quickly your CKD worsens.

How much does Farxiga lower your blood sugar?

Clinical studies have shown that Farxiga is effective at lowering blood sugar levels. In one study, people taking Farxiga 5 mg or 10 mg along with Metformin XR (up to 2000 mg per day) lowered their HbA1C by up to 2.1%. Metformin XR alone lowered A1C by 1.4%.

In another study, those taking Farxiga 5 mg by itself decreased their HbA1C by an average of 0.8% while people on 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%.