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Dapagliflozin

Generic name: dapagliflozin
Brand name: Farxiga
Dosage form: oral tablet
Drug class: SGLT-2 inhibitors

Medically reviewed by Philip Thornton, DipPharm. Last updated on Apr 4, 2023.

What is dapagliflozin?

Dapagliflozin is a prescription medication that is mainly used alongside diet and exercise to help treat type 2 diabetes, but it is also used in the treatment of heart failure. It was first approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2014.

Dapagliflozin is a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor. This class of drug uses the kidneys to help control your glucose (blood sugar) levels. It works by increasing the amount of glucose removed from the body when you urinate. It also reduces the amount of effort your heart has to put in to pumping blood around your body.

What is dapagliflozin used for?

Important information

Dapagliflozin can cause serious side effects, including:

Talk to your healthcare provider about what to do if you get symptoms of a yeast infection of the vagina or penis. Your healthcare provider may suggest you use an over-the-counter antifungal medicine. Talk to your healthcare provider right away if you use an over-the-counter antifungal medication and your symptoms do not go away.

Who should not take dapagliflozin?

Do not take dapagliflozin if you:

What should I tell my doctor before taking dapagliflozin?

Before you take dapagliflozin, tell your healthcare provider if you:

How should I take dapagliflozin?

What happens if I miss a dose?

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 take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take 2 doses of dapagliflozin at the same time.

What happens if I overdose?

If you take too much dapagliflozin, call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

Dosing information

What are the side effects of dapagliflozin?

Dapagliflozin may cause serious side effects, including:

The most common side effects of dapagliflozin include:

These are not all the possible side effects of dapagliflozin. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

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

Interactions

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Dapagliflozin may harm your unborn baby. If you become pregnant while taking dapagliflozin, your healthcare provider may switch you to a different medicine to control your blood sugar. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to control your blood sugar if you plan to become pregnant or while you are pregnant.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if dapagliflozin passes into your breast milk. You should not breastfeed if you take dapagliflozin.

Storage

Store dapagliflozin at room temperature between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C).

What are the ingredients in dapagliflozin?

Active ingredient: dapagliflozin.

Inactive ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose, anhydrous lactose, crospovidone, silicon dioxide, and magnesium stearate. The film coating contains: polyvinyl alcohol, titanium dioxide, polyethylene glycol, talc, and yellow iron oxide.

Dapaliglozin is distributed by AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP Wilmington, DE 19850 under the brandname Farxiga.

Frequently asked questions

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.