Canagliflozin and Hair Loss: What Users Say

• Gin...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 6, 2014

For Type 2 Diabetes "Been on Invokana since Aug 2013, by October worked my way up to 300mg. In the beginning, I dropped 35 lbs, and my numbers are as they were on insulin and Lantus. I feel great. I fight the yeast with a 300 million probiotic called Ultra Flora. I also use an Aquaphor barrier applied daily after I shower to prevent outside vaginal yeast. This has worked great, since I too had the problem with yeast. Sorry to be graphic, but if this helps anyone get to stay on the medicine, I am happy to share. I too am having hair loss issues, but I recently cut my hormone replacement therapy in half and with the rapid weight loss, I am hopeful things will level out soon. Give the probiotic a good month to work, but stick with it, it is worth it!"

• Sug...
• May 8, 2014

For Type 2 Diabetes "Taking Invokana for 3 months now. My glucose readings are great. Have to stop taking this miracle medicine though, because I've had a relentless feminine itch since I started it. I've been suffering through it because it works so well and I can't take Metformin or Onglyza. Decided I can't take the itching anymore, AND MY HAIR IS STARTING TO FALL OUT. When I comb my hair I get a huge handful every time. I've never lost more than a few hairs at a time before. I sure hope this doesn't continue. Don't have much more to spare! I'm also starting to hurt in the kidney area. Going back to see my doctor."

• Lol...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 12, 2014

For Type 2 Diabetes "I love this medication. Have lost 40 lbs and my blood sugar greatly improved. Fought the yeast infection by taking a low dose over-the-counter vaginal yeast suppository 2x per week that was prescribed by my doctor. Only bad thing is that I do have hair loss that I think is from this medication. Hoping it is temporary."

• Hai...
• September 8, 2014

For Type 2 Diabetes "I was prescribed Invokana for high glucose (Prediabetes), not diabetic yet. I have been on the medicine a little over a month. I developed a yeast infection and my hair is shedding a lot - handfuls at a time. Dermatologist said it would shed for up to 10 more weeks. What a horrible side effect that is not mentioned anywhere! I stopped taking the medicine."

• Cub...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 10, 2014

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have been on Invokana since September 2013, so a little over a year. I have experienced hair loss, tiredness, and yeast infections. I talked to my doctor about the hair loss, which I experienced for over a year. He has upped my Metformin to the maximum dosage. My hair has stopped falling out. I am also using Rosemary essential oil to help with hair loss, and probiotics for the yeast infection. I have had amazing results with this medication in regards to blood sugar control. My A1C went from 12.3 to 7.1. I have never had such control. As a benefit, I have lost over the course of a year 34 pounds. I feel that the benefits outweigh the side effects."

• Dan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 10, 2013

For Type 2 Diabetes "I was prescribed Invokana in combination with metformin. I have been itching ever since, and my hair is falling out to the point where I am scared to comb my hair. I stopped taking both medications. It has been a little over a month, and my hair is still falling out. Is anyone else experiencing any hair loss?"

• and...
• June 21, 2016

For Type 2 Diabetes "I've been on Invokana for two years. I never lost weight on it; however, my A1c had finally gone to normal after 20 years of being a diabetic. However, I had to stop taking it today after I put two and two together about the symptoms I am having: hair loss, severe muscle and joint pain, severe muscle cramps and contractions of legs at night that I would literally cry, and hands cramping and contracting day and night; frequency and urgency to urinate (I unknowingly peed in bed several times and peed on myself during the day uncontrollably); brain fog, severe tiredness; constant yeast infection; bladder infections; constant thirst; and eye infections when I never had them before. This medication needs to go off the market. Pray for me!"

• Her...
• January 6, 2016

For Type 2 Diabetes "I've been taking Invokana for 1 year now and really like it. I've lost weight and have had no side effects except that I have to have water with me all the time, but that's okay. Now my Cigna insurance says they won't pay for it anymore, and I have to get Farxiga or Jardiance, and I have read all the horror stories about both of them. If my hair starts falling out or I start aching all over and can't walk, I'm going to sue the insurance company. Why are insurance companies trying to play doctor?"

• Gen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 13, 2016

For Type 2 Diabetes "Although this medication did bring my sugars down a bit, and my tastings incredible, I had to stop taking it because of constant yeast infections. I thought I could tough it out, but after being on it for three months and no sign of the infections going away, my doctor took me off of it. I have also noticed my hair is so much thinner and falling out. My nails were also brittle and breaking. And make sure you drink plenty of water because it dehydrates you very fast."

• Gen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 13, 2016

For Type 2 Diabetes "Although this medication did bring my sugars down a bit, and my tastings incredible, I had to stop taking it because of constant yeast infections. I thought I could tough it out, but after being on it for three months and no sign of the infections going away, my doctor took me off of it. I have also noticed my hair is so much thinner and falling out. My nails were also brittle and breaking. And make sure you drink plenty of water because it dehydrates you very fast."

• Beb...
• February 26, 2016

For Type 2 Diabetes "Been taking Invokana for 5 months. Had a yeast infection the first month and bad vaginal itch, but it was controlled after I washed 3 times a day or washed when I started itching. So far, I've lost 20 lbs. I think my hair loss is due to body change, but I can deal with that. This drug really works for me. Just so expensive!"

• Sue...
• November 16, 2015

For Type 2 Diabetes "I'm pre-diabetic and was prescribed this medicine 2.5 months ago. I started at 100 mg for a week, then went to 300 mg. I had no idea I could lose weight so quickly. I am down about 25 lbs without changing my eating habits. I drink tons more because you are always thirsty, which means you urinate more often. Yeast infections and some hair loss seem to be the negatives, but I will stay on it as long as the benefits outweigh the negatives."

• Ang...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 20, 2016

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have lost extensive weight and have lots of energy, but my hair is falling out and is so brittle it's breaking off at the ends. My numbers have gone down, but your hair is usually a good indication of your health. If the medication is doing this to my hair, what other long-term effects am I going to have that I am unaware of? I am thankful that other people expressed their problem with hair loss also. I was told that I probably use too many chemicals on my hair."

• Ang...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 20, 2016

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have lost extensive weight and have lots of energy, but my hair is falling out and is so brittle it's breaking off at the ends. My numbers have gone down, but your hair is usually a good indication of your health. If the medication is doing this to my hair, what other long-term effects am I going to have that I am unaware of? I am thankful that other people expressed their problem with hair loss also. I was told that I probably use too many chemicals on my hair."

• L P...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 20, 2016

For Type 2 Diabetes "Started taking Invokana a little over a year ago. Started noticing a lot of hair loss, then I Googled it and found this site, which was helpful. Went to my internist, and she Googled it and found the same articles and comments. Took me off it, and I switched to Jardiance. Within 3 months, I switched back to Invokana. My A1C and daily numbers improved greatly. I've lost 15 pounds. I already exercised and watched my diet. Have been Type II for 12 years, which is from my dad's side of the family, we all have it. I've chosen to live with the hair loss, which seems to run in cycles. Hard for a gal that had full chemo and has lost all of her hair previously. It looks like this drug will either really work for you or it's not for you at all."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 21, 2016

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have been taking Invokana for about a year and a half now after taking 1000 mg of Metformin daily and Levemir and Humalog daily. The Metformin and insulin were not working as well as Dr. wanted them to, so I was switched to the extended-release Metformin 1000 mg twice a day and added Invokana 100 mg. I have since been able to go completely off of the two insulin pens, and my sugars have been in the normal range. I have lost a little bit of weight, but I have developed a horrible itch and yeast infection that will not go away. I was given Diflucan a while ago, but it didn't help. I have also recently noticed that I have been losing a ton of hair. I literally get handfuls of hair after a shower and am pulling handfuls out of my brush every time I brush."

• Clo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 1, 2016

For Type 2 Diabetes "I took Metformin 1000 mgs b.i.d. with no glucose control, added in Januvia 50 mgs 1 qd, and STILL no glucose control, and A1c sucked big time. Now have added in 300 mgs of Invokana 1 qd, and my glucose has dropped from 450+ to 110-120, and my A1c is down from 9.7 to 6.2! Severe hair loss and leg and hand cramping, but I am ALIVE!!"

• Mlb...
• March 27, 2015

For Type 2 Diabetes "My doctor put me on Jardiance, and I had an allergic reaction to it. Three weeks later, I was put on Invokana. It worked really well for me, but three weeks after taking it, I had the same kind of reaction I did with the Jardiance. About a month later, my hands and feet began peeling. This happened twice. I also noticed I have lost a lot of hair on my head in about three and a half weeks. Had I known this was a possible side effect, I would not have tried either medication."

• Igo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 7, 2016

For Type 2 Diabetes "Med helped control blood sugars a little, but with awful side effects. Was taking 100 mg, never increased to the reco 300 mg, couldn't do it as I felt so awful on the 100 mg. Side effects were extreme tiredness and thirst, nausea, increase in HDL and triglycerides. After a few months, started losing my hair, probably lost 50% volume, and getting terrible leg cramps in calves at night would wake me up several times each and every night. Severe stabbing pains mid/lower back, and the brain fog was terrible. Quit drug!! Spoke to pharmacist, he had multiple people coming in saying, 'Get me off this drug, it's killing me' - which is how I felt! Drug company paid for the drug even though my insurance would have paid for it, pharmacist thought this was odd."

• Yik...
• December 11, 2015

For Type 2 Diabetes "I took Invokana for almost a year... kept a yeast infection and I now have bald spots in my hair. Yes, I lost weight, but the side effects were too much for me... got off the medicine and gained all the weight back. I will stick to Metformin."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 12, 2016

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have had type 1 insulin-dependent diabetes for 39 years and took Invokana for over a year. My A1C came down only a few tenths of a point, and I experienced drastic swings in blood glucose and ketoacidosis. I stopped taking Invokana 2 months ago, but my hair loss has continued and has accelerated since discontinuing its use."

• Kam...
• March 2, 2016

For Type 2 Diabetes "I had excessive bleeding, horrifying and painful kidney infections, chronic constipation, hair loss, incontinence, golf ball-sized clots in my urine, and I am still peeing blood after stopping it 3 weeks ago. My legs and hands swelled, my numbers are rising in the morning from 110 and now at 140-180. My doctor is now telling me she no longer wants to be my doctor because I wouldn't keep taking the medication and is ignoring the blood in my urine. I wish I could sue someone, because living like this is not worth it."

• eas...
• March 25, 2017

For Type 2 Diabetes "As of today, it has been 260 days since I began Invokana 100 mg and d/c 5 insulin shots a day! For the most part, I have done exceptionally well with this med. I tried other brands. It was a nightmare. My endocrinologist appeals every few months to get insurance to pay. The difference is a complete turnaround from my first diagnosis in October 2016 on Halloween-no treat and a vile trick. I actually started to feel like a real person again. Invokana is my Holy Grail. I can even cheat and still keep A1C at 5. The past few months, I have been freaking out since I noticed I was losing my hair. Would I do it all over again? Yes. The hair loss is most concerning. I fear it will not cease. I do not want to go back to 5 shots a day."

• Hum...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 25, 2014

For Type 2 Diabetes "I reviewed this site because I have been on Invokana for a month, and I've noticed significant hair loss. I see that at least one other person has mentioned that."

• Jay...
• March 10, 2015

For Type 2 Diabetes "I'm glad to see others have experienced hair loss. I've been on 300 mg since last October. The medication is working well with no side effects other than the hair loss."