Canagliflozin and Thirst: What Users Say

• Dan...
• July 18, 2015

Canagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "Been on Invokana 300mg once a day, taken prior to breakfast, for 8 weeks. Third box starts today. Slight burning around head of penis week 1 & 2, wash more, gone. Thirst all day, most drink a lot, upward of 6-8 bottles per day, peeing a lot, 9 times a day. Good thing as you must flush kidneys. Weight loss, wow. Lost 31 pounds in 8 weeks and yes, that's without exercise or change in diet. Not sure if that's all good, but wow A1c 10.9 - 8.0 down to 7.5 - 6.2 on average. Still tired a lot around 2 pm afternoon. Age 52."

• Dan...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 27, 2015

Canagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "Was having a very difficult time controlling my blood sugar. My A1C reached 9.1 and I was hospitalized for three days, then sent to an endocrinologist. He put me on Victoza 1.8mL once a day and Invokana 300mg once a day. Within two to three months, I had an A1C of 5.9 and an average blood sugar of 110. I have lost close to 40 lbs. There have been some side effects - constipation, cramping, and thirst. These have all faded and become less extreme after being on the combo for just over six months. I would never change this medication. It truly has changed my life. Had to change insurance this year, and it was a battle to get the Invokana approved, but they relented. Thank goodness. For your information, I have taken Glipizide, Glimepiride, Metformin, Actos, and Insulin."

• Mol...
• April 22, 2016

Canagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "I take metformin (1000 twice a day) and have been on Invokana 300 for 3.5 months. In the first two months on Invokana, lost 14 lbs and A1C dropped from 10.5 to 7.1. In the last 6 weeks, lost another 8 lbs (now under 200 lbs for the first time in years) and can't wait to see my next A1C! Haven't had any of the serious side effects described by others, no yeast infections. Definitely thirsty and frequent urination but absolutely worth it for the weight loss and the way I'm feeling. My appetite has decreased and my energy level has significantly increased. I swam 11 miles this week! This medication has completely changed my life and I appreciate the 12 months of free medication coupon."

• and...
• June 21, 2016

Canagliflozin 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!"

• Mar...
• August 10, 2015

Canagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "This medication works perfectly for me. I am taking 300 mg/day since day 1 because my H1C was 10.8, and after 3 months, it is 6.3. I lost 30 pounds, eating better but not on a hard diet and exercising 2 times a week. Of course, I feel thirst, some issues with yeast infection, but it's all worth it!"

• JSg...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 29, 2017

Canagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "Took Invokana about 9 months. Glucose numbers were great. Started getting horrible yeast infection. It would not go away even with prescription medication. The itching started vaginal and anal area. I was miserable. No type of medication would eradicate the itching. Infection got so bad my good white blood cells could not fight off the infection in my body. Started feeling weak, extremely thirsty, eating so much ice my ice machine could not keep up with me. Started coughing a lot, short of breath, anemic. Body aches, dry hair and skin, plus I still had the yeast smell. Had blood test performed at the local hospital. White blood cell count was 247 thousand, normal is 10 thousand. Diagnosis: cancer, chronic myelogenous leukemia, my blood got infected."

• Ron...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 25, 2015

Canagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "Doctor gave me a month's worth of samples to get my sugar readings down. After 3 weeks, they have dropped quite a bit (200+ down to 130-140). Livable side effects: MUCH more frequent urination, extreme thirst, and chapped lips & hands. Doctor faxed a prescription yesterday, my insurance told me the cost would be $595. This is more than all my other medications cost me for the whole year! No generic is available. I canceled the order. Can't afford it."

• Sco...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 25, 2015

Canagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "A1c 13 a year ago. Taking 300 mg Invokana alongside 2000 mg metformin and 50 u lantus once daily. A1c made it to 7.0. Very happy now. Lantus alone and lantus plus metformin did not help enough over the last ten years. Thirsty and sometimes tired (water and caffeine counter this). Also taking a tiny dose of lisinopril to protect kidneys. No other side effects (never encountered any urinary issues)."

• eve...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 7, 2017

Canagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "I have been on many medications and insulin also. I have been on Invokana for almost a year, and what a huge difference for me. Yes, at first you are thirsty, drinking lots of water, but you should be drinking water anyway to not get dehydrated as a diabetic. All medications are different for people, so you just need to do what your body feels. I would rather take a pill than insulin any day. I have been a diabetic for over 7 years, so I have tried many things. This worked for me. I read a lot of the reviews also and was not sure, but my doctor wanted me to give it a try, so glad I did. I just wanted to say what works for one may not work for the other. Just don't give up. You'll find what works for you."

• Jur...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 19, 2015

Canagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "Four days in, I've been feeling really bad around mid-afternoon. Have already lost a few pounds. Frequently very thirsty. Have a hard time concentrating when the mid-afternoon blahs come on. A1c probably can't be judged based on less than a week, but seems to have come from 8.1 to 7.5. Am really hoping I get used to this medication, but it's a bit of a rough ride for me in the initial going. Just a word of warning... your mileage may vary, of course. Used the coupon to get it free, but my copay would be $85 a month otherwise."

• Jus...
• December 24, 2015

Canagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "Took this med for about 3 months. If I could have given it a lower rating than 0, I would. I had constant yeast infections, peed all the time, excessive thirst, dry skin, and vaginal sores. Heck, I might as well have not taken it, as I had all the symptoms of high blood sugar, and it would have been cheaper! I would not recommend this drug for anyone."

• Tha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 25, 2016

Canagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "My blood sugars were constantly in the 250 to 300 range. I experienced a burning sensation in my stomach and stomach pain and discomfort constantly. I had extreme thirst. My fluid intake doubled, I was drinking approximately 1 1/2 to 2 gallons of fluid a day with frequent urination. Finally, my stomach discomfort reached such a high level that I had to stop taking the medication. My blood sugars were still in the upper 200 and lower 300 range as well, so I thought the medication was ineffective as well, and as my side effects were no longer tolerable."

• TnD...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 22, 2017

Canagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "Have been on Invokana/Metformin (Invokamet) for less than a week, and my experience has been terrible. I expected to have to urinate more, but I am experiencing an insatiable thirst with the need to urinate almost hourly, which is extremely disruptive to daily activities. Even after less than a week on the medication, I am having constant genital itching. But the final straw for me was an exacerbation of my neuropathy. My legs, from the knee down, burn so severely that I cannot sleep. I am done with this and have decided to stop taking it completely. If this is working for you, that's great, but I just cannot tolerate the side effects."

• TV ...
• April 23, 2015

Canagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "My blood sugar went from 280-300 to around 200, so I didn't get my desired results. Also, I had extreme thirst, constant urination, every 1 1/2 to 2 hours at night and eventually not much urine coming out. Then the constipation set in and made me so miserable that I discontinued the medication after 3 weeks to get some relief. It's been 4 days and everything is back to normal. High readings, but no thirst, urination, or constipation. It wasn't worth the side effects. Also, my insurance company wouldn't pay for it, so it cost $400.00 for a one-month supply. Then the doctor's office gave me a card that was supposed to make it only cost $25.00 a month, but I guess I'll never know."

• bra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 1, 2017

Canagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "I have been on this medication for a little over 1 month. In the beginning, the side effects took a while to get used to - water.. water.. water... I am still constantly thirsty. I was itchy in the beginning, but it has gotten better. I have lost about 17 pounds and feel sooo much better!!!! I have to admit I read through the reviews before I even started the medication and was very hesitant - I am so glad that I gave it a try. This has been a life changer so far."

• Ale...
• October 9, 2016

Canagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "I have been taking Invokana for about 5 months, and I feel great! My A1C went from 9.8 to 7.4 in 3 months. The only side effect I have noticed is some weight loss. But the weight loss stopped. It does make me really thirsty, a small price to pay for controlled blood sugar levels."

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

Canagliflozin 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."

• Cha...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 1, 2018

Canagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "Initially, I steadily lost weight and felt good. Increased thirst, so drinking more, thus urinating more. Then genital itching began, slight and tolerable. After 4 months, my gums became sensitive. Itching increased in the genital area, and after trying to tolerate it for 8 months, I developed excoriation with bleeding in the vulvar area. I have been off of this medication for several weeks now. Two rounds of Diflucan later, I am still trying to get excoriations to completely heal. I even got yeast in my belly button. A1C did go down a full point, and the weight loss is great, but the side effects are horrible. My gums are still a mess. I never had gum disease before and have been diabetic for well over 11 years. I cannot find much information about the gum problems... anyone else have this problem? Hope I can get it under control, it is miserable."

• joe...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 20, 2015

Canagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "Taking Invokana has been a terrible experience for me. Caused a lot of thirst, so I drank so much water that my sodium level dropped to a dangerous level. I was hospitalized for 5 days until my normal sodium levels could be restored. I also had burning pain in my mouth. The skin in my mouth became red and sore. I couldn't eat without pain for days."

• cjo...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 27, 2017

Canagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "I've been diagnosed with type 2 since 1995. I'm extremely insulin resistant and had Invokana added to my list of meds in early 2016. Started at 100 mg, then was upped to 300 mg. My A1c had been running in the lower to mid 7's (7.2-7.5) range. Adding Invokana, A1c dropped to high 6's (6.6-6.9). Not a huge drop, but I'll take anything under 7.0. During the first year, I did have to urinate during the day almost every hour, and because of that, I had an increased thirst. Now it has slacked off to pretty much normal. I take 300 mg Invokana, on top of 1000 mg Metformin twice a day, 4 mg Glimepiride twice a day, 5 mg Tradjenta once a day, 30-40 units of Apidra fast-acting insulin depending on meals, and then 40 units of Basaglar slow-acting insulin."

• Ris...
• August 27, 2015

For Type 2 Diabetes "I started using this medication in January of this year, 2015, and so far I have lost 45 pounds with diet and exercise. My A1C was 8.1 in January, now it's 5.0. I'm now reading blood sugars of 80, which is regular. This medication is just great... I can honestly say it changed my life and made me feel good about myself in over 9 years... Only side effects are dry mouth and thirst, but otherwise it's just life-changing. By the way, I take Invokamet 150,000 ml twice per day... I highly recommend... no regrets, just a better life now."

• Blu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 10, 2017

Canagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "I've been on Invokana for a month. I take 300 mg Invokana and 2000 mg Metformin a day. I've lost 12 lbs since I started Invokana. The first 2 weeks of taking Invokana, I had to go to the bathroom literally every 45 minutes, day and night. Now it's every 90 minutes during the day and once while sleeping. I had a horrendous yeast infection. I was constantly thirsty (worse than when I was first diagnosed with diabetes). I'm still thirsty even after drinking 14 to 16 8-ounce glasses a day throughout the day. Every morning, I wake up thirsty. My BG hasn't gone down much, but I haven't been able to exercise in 2 weeks due to a back strain, and my eating habits have changed a little, but they still suck. Invokana is probably okay."

• LP1...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 26, 2015

Canagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "My side effects are: weight gain, vaginal yeast infection, tired, itching skin, increased hunger, dry mouth, cloudy urine, increased thirst, breathing difficulty, sweats, 2 months."