Farxiga works by blocking the sodium-glucose cotransporter in the kidney. It reduces the amount of glucose that’s reabsorbed by your body. This increases the amount of glucose your body gets rid of through urine. It lowers how hard your heart has to work by impacting sodium levels in the body.
What Is Farxiga Used For?
Farxiga (dapagliflozin) is used to:
Brand Name(s): Farxiga
Drug Availability: Prescription
Therapeutic Classification: Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) Inhibitor
Available Generically: No
Controlled Substance: N/A
Administration Route: Oral
Active Ingredient: Dapagliflozin
Dosage Form(s): Tablet
Lower blood sugar in people with high blood sugar (in type 2 diabetes). Reduce the risk of dying or going to the hospital due to heart failure in certain people. Lower the risk of worsening kidney problems in people with kidney issues.
This drug should not be used by people with type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis (increased ketones in your blood or urine).
How to Take Farxiga
Take Farxiga in the morning with or without food, as instructed by your healthcare provider.
Keep taking your medication even if you feel better. Do not stop taking Faxiga without speaking to your healthcare provider.
Farxiga causes you to pass excess glucose in your urine. Do not monitor your sugar with a urine glucose test.
Storage
Store Farxiga in a dry area at room temperature (68 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit (F)). You can travel with Farxiga briefly in cool and mildly hot temperatures (59 to 86 degrees F). Do not store Farxiga in your bathroom.
Keep this medicine away from the reach of pets and children, ideally locked in a cabinet or closet.
Discard all unused and expired drugs, but do not pour them down the drain or toilet. Ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider about the best ways to dispose of this medicine. Check out drug take-back programs in your area.
What Are the Side Effects of Farxiga?
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. A healthcare provider can advise you on side effects. If you experience other effects, contact your pharmacist or a healthcare provider. You may report side effects to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at fda.gov/medwatch or 800-FDA-1088.
Common Side Effects
Common side effects of Farxiga include but are not limited to:
Nose irritationThroat irritation
Severe Side Effects
Farxiga can cause many side effects. Some may be life-threatening. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life-threatening or if you think you have a medical emergency. Severe side effects include:
Abnormal heartbeat Blood in urine Confusion Fast breathing Fluid and electrolyte issues Headache Ketoacidosis Kidney problems Loss of strength Low blood sugar Mood changes Passing out Pelvic pain Severe stomach pain Urinary tract infections Yeast infection
Stop using this medicine immediately, and let your healthcare provider know if you have any new pain, infections, sores, or ulcers, especially in your lower extremities.
Dosage: How Much Farxiga Should I Take?
Modifications
The following modifications should be kept in mind when using Farxiga:
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your provider may send a report to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting Program or by phone (800-332-1088).
The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
For oral dosage form (tablets): For type 2 diabetes: Adults—At first, 5 milligrams (mg) once a day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed and tolerated. Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor. To lower risk of hospitalization for heart failure in patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular (heart or blood vessel) disease: Adults—10 milligrams (mg) once a day. Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor. To lower risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization in patients with heart failure: Adults—10 milligrams (mg) once a day. Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor. To lower risk of worsening of kidney disease, end stage kidney disease, cardiovascular death, and hospitalization for heart failure in patients with chronic kidney disease: Adults—10 milligrams (mg) once a day. Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
Pregnancy: Animal studies show that Farxiga may affect the kidney development of a fetus. Hence, people who are pregnant or plan to be pregnant should not use Farxiga, especially during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. There are limited human studies on the possible risks of miscarriage or birth defects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you plan to get pregnant or if you get pregnant.
Breastfeeding: Animal studies show that Farxiga was present in rat’s breast milk after being given the drug. It’s unknown if dapagliflozin may be found in human breast milk. Due to the risk of notable adverse reactions in the breastfeeding infant, breastfeeding is not suggested by the manufacturer.
Adults over the age of 65 years: There is no change in the dose required for adults over the age of 65. However, more older adults may be more likely to have more side effects while on Farxiga.
Children: It is unknown if Farxiga is safe and effective in children younger than 18 years.
People going through bariatric surgery: People getting bariatric surgery may have to stop taking Farxiga at least three days before surgery. Follow your healthcare provider’s directions carefully to avoid any health complications.
Missed Dose
If you accidentally missed a dose, take the missed dose once you think of it. Skip the missed dose if it is too close to your next dose. Return to your regular schedule. Do not double up or take extra tablets to make up for your missed dose.
Try to find ways to help yourself remember to routinely take your medication. If you miss too many doses, Farxiga might be less effective in controlling your blood sugar.
Overdose: What Happens If I Take Too Much Farxiga?
There is limited information available about Farxiga overdose.
However, if you think that you’re experiencing an overdose or life-threatening symptoms, seek immediate medical attention.
Precautions
What Are Reasons I Shouldn’t Take Farxiga?
Avoid taking Farxiga if you:
If someone collapses or isn’t breathing after taking Farxiga, call 911 immediately.
Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting may occur with this medicine. This is more common if you have kidney disease, low blood pressure, or if you are taking a diuretic (water pill). Taking plenty of fluids each day may help. Drink plenty of water during exercise or in hot weather. Check with your doctor if you have severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea that does not stop. This may cause you to lose too much water.
Ketoacidosis (high ketones and acid in the blood) may occur while you are using this medicine. This can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Your doctor may give you insulin, fluid, and carbohydrate replacement to treat this condition. Tell your doctor right away if you have nausea, vomiting, trouble breathing, increased thirst or urination, or stomach pain.
Tell your doctor if you have bloody urine, decrease in how much or how often you urinate, painful or difficult urination, lower back or side pain, fever, chills, rapid weight gain, or swelling of the face, finger, or lower legs. These may be symptoms of a serious kidney problem.
This medicine may increase risk of having urinary tract infections, including pyelonephritis or urosepsis. Check with your doctor right away if you have bladder pain, bloody or cloudy urine, difficult, burning, or painful urination, or lower back or side pain.
This medicine may cause vaginal yeast infections in women and yeast infections of the penis in men. This is more common in patients who have a history of genital yeast infections or in men who are not circumcised. Women may have a vaginal discharge, itching, or odor. Men may have redness, itching, swelling, or pain around the penis, or a discharge with a strong odor from the penis. Check with your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms.
This medicine may cause a rare but serious bacterial infection, called necrotizing fasciitis of the perineum or Fournier’s gangrene, which can cause damage to the tissue under the skin in the area between and around the anus and genitals (perineum). Fournier’s gangrene may lead to hospitalization, multiple surgeries, or death. Check with your doctor right away if you have fever, unusual tiredness or weakness, or pain, tenderness, redness, or swelling of the area between and around your anus and genitals.
This medicine may cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). This is more common when this medicine is taken together with other diabetes medicines (eg, insulin, glipizide, or glyburide). The symptoms of low blood sugar must be treated before they cause you to pass out. People feel different symptoms with low blood sugar. It is important that you learn which symptoms you usually have so you can treat it quickly. Some symptoms of low blood sugar include: behavior changes that are similar to being drunk, blurred vision, cold sweats, confusion, cool, pale skin, difficulty with thinking, drowsiness, excessive hunger, fast heartbeat, headaches that continue, nausea, shakiness, slurred speech, or unusual tiredness or weakness. Talk to your doctor about how to treat low blood sugar.
Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) may occur if you do not take enough or skip a dose of your diabetes medicine, overeat or do not follow your diet plan, have a fever or infection, or do not exercise as much as usual. Some symptoms of high blood sugar include: blurred vision, drowsiness, dry mouth, flushed and dry skin, a fruit-like breath odor, increased frequency and amount of urination, ketones in the urine, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, rapid and deep breathing, tiredness, or unusual thirst. If symptoms of high blood sugar occur, check your blood sugar level and call your doctor for instructions.
Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect the results of certain medical tests (eg, urine glucose tests may not be accurate). Also, you may need to stop taking this medicine at least 3 days before you have a surgery.
Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. If you become pregnant while taking dapagliflozin, your doctor may switch you to another medicine to control your blood sugar. Talk to your doctor about the best way to control your blood sugar if you plan to become pregnant or while you are pregnant.
Do not use this medicine if you are also using or have recently received medicine that weakens your immune system to treat kidney disease.
Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.
Have severe kidney issues Have diabetic ketoacidosis Are on dialysis Are pregnant Have type 1 diabetes Are allergic to Farxiga or any parts of its ingredients
What Other Medications Interact With Farxiga?
Certain medications interact with Farxiga, like drugs in the sulfonylurea drug class used to treat high blood sugar in type 2 diabetes. The drug interaction may increase the risk of side effects, especially hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Examples of sulfonylureas include:
Glucotrol XL (glipizide)Glynase (glyburide)Amaryl (glimepiride)
For more detailed information about medication interactions with Farxiga, talk with your pharmacist or healthcare provider.
What Medications Are Similar?
Other drugs similar to Farxiga used to treat type 2 diabetes include:
Invokana (canagliflozin)Jardiance (empagliflozin)Steglatro (ertugliflozin)
This list includes drugs also prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes. It is NOT a list of medicines recommended to take with Farxiga. You should not take these drugs together unless your healthcare provider tells you to. Ask your pharmacist or a healthcare provider if you have questions.
How Can I Stay Healthy While Taking Farxiga?
In addition to using Farxiga to control your diabetes, it is recommended that you adopt a healthy lifestyle, including proper diet and exercise as instructed by your healthcare provider. Changes in your exercise and diet can affect your blood sugar control. Therefore, speak to your healthcare provider prior to changing or starting any new diet or exercise routines.
Nose irritationThroat irritation
Generally, working with a team that includes a registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN) - and particularly one that’s a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) - can help you explore your eating, movement, medication habits, and more. They can also help you build your toolkit and your capacity - because this stuff can be challenging and we don’t have to do it alone - to avoid spikes in blood sugar and help you feel good.
While Farxiga works well to control your blood sugar, certain problems have happened to some people while on this medication. Hence, let your healthcare provider know if you:
Are pregnant or plan to get pregnant Have type 1 diabetes Have acidic blood issues Have kidney problems Are on dialysis Are dehydrated Are breastfeeding
