Dapagliflozin (oral route)


    Brand Name

    US Brand Name

    Farxiga


    Description

    Dapagliflozin is used together with proper diet and exercise to treat type 2 diabetes. It works in the kidneys to prevent absorption of glucose (blood sugar). This helps lower the blood sugar level. Dapagliflozin does not help patients who have insulin-dependent or type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetic patients must use insulin injections.

    Dapagliflozin is also used to lower the risk of hospitalization for heart failure in patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular (heart or blood vessel) disease or multiple cardiovascular risk factors. This medicine is also used to lower the risk of cardiovascular death, hospitalization, and urgent heart failure visit in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (the heart is weak and cannot pump enough blood to the rest of the body).

    Dapagliflozin is also used to lower the risk of worsening of kidney disease, end stage kidney disease, cardiovascular death, and hospitalization for heart failure in patients with chronic kidney disease.

    This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

    This product is available in the following dosage forms:

    • Tablet

    Before Using

    In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

    Allergies

    Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

    Pediatric

    Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of dapagliflozin in children younger than 10 years of age to treat type 2 diabetes and in children to treat other conditions. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

    Geriatric

    Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of dapagliflozin in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have unwanted effects (eg, low blood pressure), which may require caution in patients receiving dapagliflozin.

    Breastfeeding

    There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

    Drug Interactions

    Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

    Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

    • Abiraterone Acetate
    • Abiraterone Acetate, Micronized
    • Chloroquine
    • Chlorothiazide
    • Chlorthalidone
    • Ciprofloxacin
    • Delafloxacin
    • Enoxacin
    • Furosemide
    • Gatifloxacin
    • Gemifloxacin
    • Grepafloxacin
    • Hydrochlorothiazide
    • Hydroflumethiazide
    • Hydroxychloroquine
    • Indapamide
    • Insulin
    • Insulin Aspart, Recombinant
    • Insulin Bovine
    • Insulin Degludec
    • Insulin Detemir
    • Insulin Glargine, Recombinant
    • Insulin Glulisine
    • Insulin Lispro, Recombinant
    • Lanreotide Acetate
    • Levofloxacin
    • Lithium
    • Lomefloxacin
    • Metolazone
    • Moxifloxacin
    • Norfloxacin
    • Octreotide Acetate
    • Ofloxacin
    • Pasireotide Diaspartate
    • Polythiazide
    • Pramlintide
    • Somatrogon-ghla
    • Sparfloxacin
    • Thioctic Acid
    • Triamterene

    Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

    • Acebutolol
    • Atenolol
    • Betaxolol
    • Bisoprolol
    • Carteolol
    • Carvedilol
    • Celiprolol
    • Esmolol
    • Glecaprevir
    • Labetalol
    • Levobunolol
    • Metipranolol
    • Metoprolol
    • Nadolol
    • Nebivolol
    • Oxprenolol
    • Penbutolol
    • Pibrentasvir
    • Pindolol
    • Practolol
    • Propranolol
    • Sotalol
    • Timolol

    Other Interactions

    Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

    Other Medical Problems

    The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

    • Alcohol abuse, history of or
    • Congestive heart failure or
    • Hypovolemia (low blood volume) or
    • Pancreatic insulin deficiency, (eg, pancreatitis, pancreatic surgery) history of—May increase risk for more serious side effects.
    • Dehydration or
    • Diabetic ketoacidosis (high ketones and acid in the blood) or
    • Genital yeast (fungus) infections (eg, balanitis, balanoposthitis, vulvovaginitis), history of or
    • Hypotension (low blood pressure) or
    • Kidney disease or
    • Pancreas problems (eg, pancreatitis) or
    • Urinary tract infection (eg, pyelonephritis, urosepsis), history of or
    • Vitamin B12 deficiency—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.
    • Fever or
    • Infection or
    • Surgery or
    • Trauma—Use with caution. These conditions may cause problems with blood sugar control.
    • Kidney disease, severe (eg, polycystic kidney disease) or
    • Type 1 diabetes or
    • Type 2 diabetes with moderate to severe kidney disease—Should not be used in patients with these conditions.

    Proper Use

    Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not use more of it, do not use it more often, and do not use it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. Do not change your dose unless directed by your doctor.

    This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

    Carefully follow the special meal plan your doctor gave you. This is the most important part of controlling your diabetes, and will help the medicine work properly. Exercise regularly and test for sugar in your blood or urine as directed.

    Tell your doctor if you are on a low-salt or sodium diet.

    You may take this medicine with or without food.

    Dosing

    The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

    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 and children 10 years of age and older—At first, 5 milligrams (mg) once a day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed and tolerated.
        • Children younger than 10 years of age—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.

    Missed Dose

    If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

    Storage

    Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

    Keep out of the reach of children.

    Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

    Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.


    Precautions

    It is very important that your doctor check your or your child's progress at regular visits, especially during the first few weeks that you take this medicine. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

    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). Drinking 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.

    Diabetic ketoacidosis (high ketones and acid in the blood) may occur while you are using this medicine. This can be life-threatening and require 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, fingers, 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 vaginal discharge, itching, or odor. Men may have redness, itching, swelling, or pain around the penis, or 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 or other procedures that require fasting.

    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.


    Side Effects

    Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

    Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

    More common

    • Anxiety
    • bladder pain
    • bloody or cloudy urine
    • blurred vision
    • chills
    • cold sweats
    • confusion
    • cool, pale skin
    • decreased frequency or amount of urine
    • depression
    • difficult, burning, or painful urination
    • dizziness
    • fast heartbeat
    • frequent urge to urinate
    • headache
    • increased hunger
    • increased thirst
    • itching of the vagina or genitals
    • loss of appetite
    • loss of consciousness
    • lower back or side pain
    • nausea
    • nightmares
    • seizures
    • shakiness
    • slurred speech
    • swelling of the face, fingers, or lower legs
    • thick, white vaginal discharge with mild or no odor
    • trouble breathing
    • unusual tiredness or weakness
    • vomiting
    • weight gain

    Less common

    • Foul smelling discharge from the penis
    • pain in the skin around the penis
    • rash of the penis
    • redness, itching, or swelling of the penis

    Rare

    • Cough
    • difficulty with swallowing
    • dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
    • dry mouth
    • fainting
    • increase in heart rate
    • large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
    • lightheadedness
    • puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
    • rapid breathing
    • skin rash, hives, or itching
    • sunken eyes
    • sweating
    • tightness in the chest
    • wrinkled skin

    Incidence not known

    • Fever
    • flushed, dry skin
    • fruit-like breath odor
    • loss of consciousness
    • pain, tenderness, redness, or swelling of the area between the anus and genitals
    • stomach pain
    • unexplained weight loss

    Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

    More common

    • Muscle aches
    • sore throat
    • stuffy or runny nose

    Less common

    • Back pain
    • difficulty having a bowel movement
    • pain in the arms or legs

    Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

    Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.






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