What is dapagliflozin, and how does it work (mechanism of action)?
Dapagliflozin (Farxiga) is an oral medication used
to improve glycemia (blood glucose) control in patients with
type 2 diabetes.
Dapagliflozin is a sodium-glucose cotransporter (SGLT2) inhibitor. It is similar
to canagliflozin (Invokana) and empagliflozin (Jardiance). SGLT2 is found in the
kidney tubules and is responsible for reabsorbing the majority of glucose
filtered out of the blood by the kidneys. By inhibiting SGLT2 dapagliflozin
reduces the reabsorption of filtered glucose and consequently increases
excretion of glucose in the urine. Dapagliflozin is not recommended for use in
patients with moderate to severe kidney disease. Dapagliflozin was approved by the US FDA in January 2014.
What brand names are available for dapagliflozin?
Farxiga
Is dapagliflozin available as a generic drug?
GENERIC AVAILABLE: No
Do I need a prescription for dapagliflozin?
Yes
What are the side effects of dapagliflozin?
The most common side effects associated with dapagliflozin
were:
- vaginal yeast infections,
-
yeast infections
of the penis, - nasopharyngitis (upper respiratory tract infections usually
with associated
sore throat,
runny nose,
nasal congestion, and sneezing), -
urinary tract infections
(UTIs), and - changes in urination (urinary urgency, urinating
more often and in larger amounts).
Other reported side effects include:
- hypotension (decrease in blood pressure),
- kidney dysfunction,
- dehydration,
-
hypoglycemia (low blood
sugar) when
co-administered with
insulin or insulin secretagogues, - increase in
low-density
lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), - bladder cancer, and
- hypersensitivity reactions.
What is the dosage for dapagliflozin?
- The recommended starting dose of dapagliflozin is 5 mg by mouth once
daily in the morning. - Dapagliflozin may be taken with or without food.
- The dose
may be increased to 10 mg once daily in patients who require additional glycemic
control. Kidney function must be assessed before starting treatment. - Dapagliflozin should not be used in patient whose estimated glomerular
filtration rate (eGFR) is <60 ml/min/1.73m2.
Which drugs or supplements interact with dapagliflozin?
: No significant drug interactions have been reported with
dapagliflozin use.
Is dapagliflozin safe to take if I’m pregnant or breastfeeding?
It is not known if dapagliflozin is excreted in human
breast
milk. However, dapagliflozin is secreted in the milk of lactating rats, and
exposure showed risk to the developing kidneys in the rat fetus. Currently, the
manufacturer does not recommend use of this medication while nursing.
What else should I know about dapagliflozin?
What preparations of dapagliflozin are available?
Oral tablets: 5 and 10 mg
How should I keep dapagliflozin stored?
Tablets may be stored at room temperature, between 20 C to 25 C (68
F to 77 F).