Uses
What is Farxiga used for?
Farxiga (dapagliflozin) is commonly used to help lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
Farxiga is also used in people with chronic (long-term) kidney disease, heart failure, or type 2 diabetes and heart disease (or at high risk for heart disease) to prevent the following complications.
- Worsening kidney problems
- Need for urgent treatment or hospital admission for heart failure
- Dying from heart problems
Farxiga is not used to treat type 1 diabetes. However, it may be used for other reasons in people who have type 1 diabetes, such as to prevent complications if you also have heart failure or kidney disease.
Farxiga may also be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.
How does Farxiga work (mechanism of action)?
Farxiga lowers blood sugar levels by helping your body get rid of sugar when you pee.
Farxiga lowers the risk of complications from heart failure, diabetes and heart disease, and kidney problems by helping your body get rid of extra sugar, salt, and water.
How is Farxiga supplied (dosage forms)?
Farxiga is available in the following dosage forms that are taken by mouth.
- 5 mg oral tablets
- 10 mg oral tablets
How should I store Farxiga?
Farxiga oral tablets should be stored at room temperature, between 68 F to 77 F (20 C to 25 C). It can be exposed to temperatures between 59 F to 86 F (15 C to 30 C) for shorter periods of time, such as when transporting it. Store in a cool, dry place.
Side Effects
What are the most common side effects of Farxiga?
The most common side effects of Farxiga are listed below. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of these side effects that bother you.
- Yeast infection of the vagina or penis
- Kidney or bladder infections
- Increased frequency or amount of pee
There may be other side effects of Farxiga that are not listed here. Contact your healthcare provider if you think you are having a side effect of a medicine. In the U.S., you can report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or by calling 800-FDA-1088. In Canada, you can report side effects to Health Canada at www.health.gc.ca/medeffect or by calling 866-234-2345.
What are the serious side effects of Farxiga?
While less common, the most serious side effects of Farxiga are described below, along with what to do if they happen.
Severe Allergic Reactions. Farxiga may cause allergic reactions, which can be serious. Stop taking Farxiga and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.
- Breathing problems or wheezing
- Racing heart
- Fever or general ill feeling
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
- Trouble swallowing or throat tightness
- Itching, skin rash, or pale red bumps on the skin called hives
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or fainting
- Stomach cramps
- Joint pain
Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA). Farxiga may cause diabetic ketoacidosis (a serious complication of diabetes). DKA can be life threatening. Stop taking Farxiga and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis.
- Nausea/vomiting
- Stomach pain
- Feeling very tired, woozy, or confused
- Difficulty breathing
- Your breath smells fruity or sweet
- Very high blood sugar levels (>300 mg/dL)
Dehydration. Farxiga may cause dehydration. Dehydration may lead to low blood pressure, especially when you stand up (orthostatic hypotension), or kidney damage. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of dehydration, low blood pressure, or kidney damage.
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Weakness or unusual tiredness
- Confusion
- Unsteadiness
- Peeing less than normal
- Swelling in your legs, ankles, and feet
- Loss of appetite/nausea
- Difficulty catching your breath or chest pain/pressure
- Seizures
- Extreme thirst
Urosepsis and Pyelonephritis. Farxiga may cause pyelonephritis (a kidney infection) or urosepsis (an untreated urinary tract infection that spreads to your kidney). These are serious infections and may need to be treated in the hospital. Get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of these serious infections.
- Dark, cloudy, or bloody pee or pee that smells bad
- Fever and chills
- Loss of appetite
- Needing to pee a lot or feeling pain when you pee
- Pain in your lower back, side, or groin
- Upset stomach, nausea, and vomiting
Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia). Farxiga can cause low blood sugar, especially when combined with insulin or other medicines that increase your insulin levels. Low blood sugar can be serious and may lead to death. You may need a lower dose of your other diabetes medicine to reduce your risk of hypoglycemia. Do not take Farxiga and call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of hypoglycemia.
- Headache
- Crankiness or anxiety
- Hunger
- Dizziness or confusion
- Blurry vision
- Slurred speech
- Sweating
- Feeling jittery or shakiness
- Fast heartbeat
- Seizures
Necrotizing Fasciitis (Fournier’s Gangrene). Farxiga can cause necrotizing fasciitis (an aggressive infection of the skin and the tissue underneath the skin that causes some of the tissue involved to die). Necrotizing fasciitis is rare, but very serious, can lead to death, and may require surgery to treat it. Get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of this serious infection.
- Pain, redness, tenderness, or swelling of the perineum (of and around the anus and genitals)
- Fever
- General feeling of illness or discomfort
Broken Bones. Farxiga may increase your risk of a fracture (broken bone). Discuss your medical history with your healthcare provider so your risk of fracture can be assessed.
Warnings & Precautions
Who should not use Farxiga?
Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not use Farxiga.
- Dapagliflozin
- Farxiga
- Any of the ingredients in the specific product dispensed
Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in Farxiga.
Kidney Problems and Chronic Kidney Disease. Farxiga should not be used to treat chronic kidney disease if you have polycystic kidney disease or take or have recently taken a medicine for your kidney disease that lowers your body’s ability to fight infection, such as prednisone.
Kidney Problems and Type 2 Diabetes. Farxiga should not be used to lower your blood sugar if your kidneys are not working as well as they should be. If there is a concern about the health of your kidneys, your healthcare provider may do tests to determine if they are working well enough to take this medicine.
What should I know about Farxiga before using it?
Do not take Farxiga unless it has been prescribed to you by a healthcare provider. Take it as prescribed.
Do not share Farxiga with other people, even if they have the same condition as you. It may harm them.
Keep Farxiga out of the reach of children.
If you have diabetes, certain conditions that cause increased stress on your body, like fever, trauma (such as a car accident), infection, or surgery can change the amount of diabetes medicines you need to take to control your diabetes. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have any of these conditions to decide if your medicine needs to be changed.
If you have diabetes, talk to your healthcare provider about how to prevent, recognize, and manage low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), and diabetes-related problems.
People who are 65 years or older can be at greater risk for some side effects from Farxiga. Talk to your healthcare provider about your risks if you are in this age group.
People who have kidney problems can be at greater risk for some side effects from Farxiga. Talk to your healthcare provider about your risks if you have kidney problems.
You can take Farxiga with or without food.
Farxiga will cause your pee to test positive for glucose (sugar).
Your healthcare provider will run lab tests to see how well your kidneys are working and make sure you are not dehydrated before starting Farxiga.
What should I tell my healthcare provider before using Farxiga?
Tell your healthcare provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them determine if Farxiga is right for you.
In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following.
Risk factors for diabetic ketoacidosis. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following risk factors for diabetic ketoacidosis. Your healthcare provider may monitor you more closely or choose a different medicine for you.
- Type 1 diabetes or a history of diabetic ketoacidosis. Your healthcare provider may want you to monitor for ketones (acids made in your liver) if you are taking Farxiga.
- Decrease in your insulin dose
- Serious infection
- Low-salt diet. Your healthcare provider may suggest you stop using a low-salt diet.
- Drink alcohol often or in large amounts
- Pancreas problems, including a history of pancreatitis or surgery on your pancreas.
- Dehydration
- Eating or drinking less than normal
- Vomiting or diarrhea
History of genital yeast infections. Tell your healthcare provider if you have a history of genital (penis or vagina) yeast infections. This may make it more likely that you will have yeast infections of the vagina or penis while taking Farxiga. Your healthcare provider may choose a different medicine for you.
Other Current and Past Health Conditions. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following.
- Liver problems
- History of kidney or bladder infections or difficulty peeing.
- Have surgery scheduled.
Other Medicines and Supplements. Farxiga may interact with other medicines and supplements. Before taking Farxiga, tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. See the Interactions section for more details.
Pregnancy. Farxiga may cause harm to an unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you are or plan to become pregnant. If you become pregnant, contact your healthcare provider right away.
Breastfeeding. It is not known if Farxiga passes into breast milk. Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Your healthcare provider will advise you if you should stop breastfeeding or stop Farxiga.
How can I get more information about Farxiga?
For more information about Farxiga, you can visit the manufacturer’s website at https://www.farxiga.com/ or call them at 855-3FARXIGA (855-332-7944).
Interactions
Does Farxiga interact with foods or drinks?
There are no known interactions between Farxiga and foods or drinks.
Being on a low-salt diet while taking Farxiga may increase your risk of dehydration. See the Side Effects section for more details.
Drinking alcohol often or too much alcohol while taking Farxiga may increase your risk of diabetic ketoacidosis. See the Side Effects section for more details. It is unknown if drinking alcohol will affect Farxiga in other ways, but alcohol may affect blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. This may interfere with the effect of Farxiga. It is best to limit the amount of alcohol you drink.
Does Farxiga interact with other medicines (drug interactions)?
Always tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.
In particular, make sure that you discuss if you are using any of the following before taking Farxiga.
- Lithium, which is a medicine for certain mental health conditions
- A diuretic, also called a water pill, which is a medicine used to reduce edema (fluid retention) and blood pressure
- Other medicines for diabetes
This may not be a complete list of medicines that can interact with Farxiga. Always check with your healthcare provider.
Overdose/Missed Dose
What should I do if I accidentally use too much Farxiga?
If you or someone else has used too much Farxiga, get medical help right away, call 911, or contact a Poison Control center at 800-222-1222.
What should I do if I miss a dose of Farxiga?
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and only take the next dose. Do not take double or extra doses.
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