Does Farxiga Cause Weight Loss? (Plus 5 More Farxiga FAQs)
Farxiga may cause weight loss because it removes extra sugar from your bloodstream. Experts explain how Farxiga causes weight loss and answer other FAQs.
Farxiga
Used for Diabetes Type 2, Heart Failure, Kidney Disease
Used for Diabetes Type 2, Heart Failure, Kidney Disease
Farxiga (dapagliflozin) is a medication that helps lower blood sugar in people 10 years and older with Type 2 diabetes. It works best for diabetes when used with a nutritious diet and exercise. Farxiga (dapagliflozin) can also help lower the risk of serious complications, hospital stays, and death in certain adults with heart failure or chronic kidney disease (CKD). This medication belongs to the drug class called sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. It comes as a tablet that's taken by mouth once a day. Side effects include yeast infections and urinating more often. Some people might also notice some weight loss.
What is Farxiga (dapagliflozin)?
What is Farxiga (dapagliflozin) used for?
- Type 2 diabetes (in addition to diet and exercise) in people ages 10 years and older
- Lowering the risk of hospital stays for heart failure in adults with Type 2 diabetes and heart disease
- Lowering the risk of hospital stays and death due to heart problems in adults with heart failure
- Lowering the risk of worsening kidney problems, hospital stays for heart failure, and death due to heart problems in adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD)
How Farxiga (dapagliflozin) works
Farxiga (dapagliflozin) is a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor. It works by blocking the SGLT2 protein in the kidneys. This prevents sugar and sodium (salt) from absorbing back into your body.
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For Type 2 diabetes: Instead of being absorbed back into your body, extra sugar passes into your urine. This helps lower your blood sugar levels.
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For heart failure: By stopping your body from absorbing back too much sodium, the heart can fill with blood and pump blood through the body more easily. This helps lessen stress on the heart.
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For CKD: The medication works to help improve blood flow in the kidneys. This helps lessen stress on the kidneys and slow down CKD of CKD.
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Farxiga |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | SGLT2 inhibitor |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | Lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
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Side effects of Farxiga (dapagliflozin)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Vaginal yeast infection (7-8%)
- Cold symptoms (6-7%)
- Urinary tract infection (UTI; 4-6%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Back pain
- Pain in arm or leg
- Urinating more
- Discomfort when urinating
- Genital yeast infection in males
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Flu-like symptoms
- Higher cholesterol levels
Farxiga (dapagliflozin) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Severe allergic reaction: swelling in the face, throat, tongue, or mouth; rash; trouble breathing
- High ketone levels in the blood (ketoacidosis): nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, tiredness, fruity breath, dry mouth, thirsty, trouble breathing
When do Farxiga (dapagliflozin) possible side effects begin and end?
Time passed since treatment started:
H
D
W
M
Urinating more
Risk of genital infection (e.g., yeast infection)
If a line continues to the right, you'll likely keep experiencing this side effect once it starts.
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The following Farxiga (dapagliflozin) side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Dehydration—increased thirst, dry mouth, feeling faint or lightheaded, headache, dark yellow or brown urine
- Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)—increased thirst or amount of urine, dry mouth, fatigue, fruity odor to breath, trouble breathing, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting
- Genital yeast infection—redness, swelling, pain, or itchiness, odor, thick or lumpy discharge
- New pain or tenderness, change in skin color, sores or ulcers, infection of the leg or foot
- Infection or redness, swelling, tenderness, or pain in the genitals, or area from the genitals to the back of the rectum
- Urinary tract infection (UTI)—burning when passing urine, passing frequent small amounts of urine, bloody or cloudy urine, pain in the lower back or sides
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Pros and cons of Farxiga (dapagliflozin)
Pros
- Taken once a day
- Low risk of low blood sugar when taken by itself
- Can take with other diabetes medications
Cons
- Might make you urinate more
- Raises the risk of yeast infections and urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Not recommended during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy
Pharmacist tips for Farxiga (dapagliflozin)
- Take Farxiga (dapagliflozin) by mouth once a day, with or without food. Keep taking it every day as prescribed, even if you don't see a big difference at first. It can take a few weeks or months of daily use to get the full benefits.
- Ask your prescriber how often you should check your blood sugar while taking Farxiga (dapagliflozin). Write down your blood sugar readings and share them with your care team. This helps your prescriber see if your treatment needs any adjustments.
- Eat a balanced diet, stay active, and take your other medications as prescribed. These healthy habits can help Farxiga (dapagliflozin) work its best. Ask your care team if you have questions about your treatment plan as a whole.
- Drink plenty of fluids while taking Farxiga (dapagliflozin). This can help lower your risk of dehydration and low blood pressure. Tell your prescriber if you feel dizzy or lightheaded often, and get medical help right away if you faint.
- Urinating more is a common side effect of Farxiga (dapagliflozin). But if you have a fever, pain or burning when you urinate, or pain in your lower stomach or back, tell your primary care provider. These can be signs of a urinary tract infection (UTI).
- Farxiga (dapagliflozin) can raise your risk of genital infections, such as yeast infections. Tell your care team if you have pain, swelling, redness, itching, tenderness, or a bad odor around your genitals. Get medical help right away if you have a fever or severe pain with these symptoms. Treating the infection early can help keep it from becoming more serious.
- To help lower your risk of UTIs and yeast infections with Farxiga (dapagliflozin), keep your genital area clean and dry. Wipe from front to back after using the bathroom. Also change out of wet swimsuits or sweaty clothes as soon as you can.
- Tell your prescriber if you plan to have surgery where you'll need to fast (not eat or drink for a while). You might need to stop taking Farxiga (dapagliflozin) a few days before surgery and restart it after you've recovered and are eating normally again. This helps lower your risk of ketoacidosis (high ketone levels), a rare but serious condition. Follow your prescriber's instructions for surgery.
- Your risk of ketoacidosis might be higher if you get sick or eat much less than usual while taking Farxiga (dapagliflozin). If you have symptoms like feeling thirsty, stomach upset, feeling tired, or fruity breath, get medical help right away. If you can, also check your ketone levels.
- Farxiga (dapagliflozin) usually doesn't cause low blood sugar by itself. But your risk is higher if you also use insulin or take sulfonylureas like glipizide. Learn the signs of low blood sugar, like feeling sweaty, shaky, anxious, or very hungry. Treat low blood sugar right away if it happens.
- It's best to avoid alcohol while taking Farxiga (dapagliflozin). Alcohol can raise your risk of dehydration, dizziness, and low blood sugar.
- If you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant: Talk to your prescriber. Farxiga (dapagliflozin) isn't recommended during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. It has a potential risk of harm to your unborn baby. It's important to keep your health condition under control during pregnancy to help prevent serious problems. Talk to your prescriber about the risks and benefits of your treatment options. They can help you choose a treatment that's safe for you.
- If you plan on breastfeeding: Breastfeeding isn't recommended while you're taking Farxiga (dapagliflozin). We don't know if it can pass into breast milk and what effects it could have on a breastfed baby. But there's a potential for harm to your baby. Ask your prescriber or a lactation specialist about safe feeding options.
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Risks and warnings for Farxiga (dapagliflozin)
Farxiga (dapagliflozin) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Ketoacidosis
- Risk factors: Diabetes | Sick with a fever | Eating much less than usual | Ketogenic (keto) diet | Dehydration | Pancreatic problems | Alcohol use | Insulin dose reduction or missed insulin doses | Surgery
Some people with diabetes taking Farxiga (dapagliflozin) have had ketoacidosis. It's a serious condition when your body makes too many acids called ketones. This can make your blood too acidic, which can be very dangerous. Your risk might be higher if you get sick, eat much less than usual, or recently had surgery.
Watch for signs of ketoacidosis while taking Farxiga (dapagliflozin), even if you don't have diabetes. Symptoms can include thirst, dry mouth, and urinating more often. Other signs are fruity breath, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, or feeling very tired. If you notice these symptoms, check your ketone levels if possible and get medical help right away.
Low fluids in the body (leading to low blood pressure or dehydration)
- Risk factors: 65 years or older | Kidney problems | Taking loop diuretics (water pills)
Farxiga (dapagliflozin) can cause your body to lose too much fluid. This can lead to dehydration or very low blood pressure in some people. Low fluid levels can also lower blood flow to the kidneys and might cause kidney injury.
You might be at risk if you're 65 years or older or if you already have kidney problems. It can also be higher if you take certain water pills, such as furosemide (Lasix).
If you're at risk, your prescriber will check your kidneys with blood tests before you start Farxiga (dapagliflozin). They might also check during treatment to make sure the medication is still safe for you.
Tell your care team if you feel dizzy or lightheaded while taking Farxiga (dapagliflozin). These can be sign of dehydration or low blood pressure. Also let them know if you notice that you're urinating less than usual or have darker urine. These could also be signs of dehydration or a kidney problem.
Genital and urinary tract infections
- Risk factors: History of genital yeast infections or urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Farxiga (dapagliflozin) can raise your risk of genital infections, like yeast infections and UTIs. In rare cases, these infections can become serious and might need hospital treatment.
Get urgent care right away if it burns when you urinate, you need to urinate often, or you see blood in your urine. These can be signs of a UTI. Also get medical care if you notice an odor from your genitals or have pain, redness, swelling, or itching around your genitals. These can be signs of a genital yeast infection. It's important to get it checked out so you can get treated for any infections quickly.
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) when used with certain other diabetes medications
Taking Farxiga (dapagliflozin) with insulin or sulfonylureas, like glipizide, can put you at risk of low blood sugar. These diabetes medications are . Very low blood sugar can be dangerous and even life-threatening.
Be sure you can recognize symptoms of low blood sugar. This can include feeling shaky, anxious, confused, sleepy, weak, or very hungry. You might also have a fast heartbeat, be sweaty, or have chills.
If you have these symptoms, check your blood sugar and treat any low blood sugar right away. Talk to your prescriber or pharmacist about your risk for low blood sugar.
Farxiga (dapagliflozin) dosage
The average cost for 30 tablets of 10mg of Farxiga (dapagliflozin) is $288.00 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 34.37% off the average retail price of $438.81. 
Tablet
Tablet| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5mg | 30 tablets | $288.00 | $9.60 |
| 10mg | 30 tablets | $288.00 | $9.60 |
Typical dosage for Farxiga (dapagliflozin)
- Adults and children 10 years and older with Type 2 diabetes: The typical starting dose is 5 mg by mouth once daily. Your prescriber might raise your dose to 10 mg once daily if you need more blood sugar control.
- Adults with heart failure or CKD: The typical dose is 10 mg by mouth once daily.
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How much does Farxiga (dapagliflozin) cost?
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What are alternatives to Farxiga (dapagliflozin)?
There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Farxiga (dapagliflozin). Compare a few possible alternatives below.
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