Forxiga contains the active substance dapagliflozin. It belongs to a group of medicines called “oral anti-diabetics”.
These are medicines taken by mouth for diabetes.
They work by lowering the amount of sugar (glucose) in your blood.
Forxiga is used for a type of diabetes called “type 2 diabetes mellitus” in adult patients (aged 18 years and older). “Type 2 diabetes mellitus” is the type of diabetes that usually starts when you are older. If you have type 2 diabetes, your pancreas does not make enough insulin or your body is not able to use the insulin it produces properly. This leads to a high level of sugar in your blood. Forxiga works by removing excess sugar from your body via your urine.
Forxiga is used if your diabetes cannot be controlled with other medicines for diabetes, diet and exercise.
Your doctor may ask you to take Forxiga on its own if you are intolerant to metformin or together with other medicines to treat diabetes. This may be another medicine taken by mouth and/or insulin given by injection.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before taking Forxiga:
if you have “type 1 diabetes” – the type that usually starts when you are young, and your body does not produce any insulin.
if you have increased levels of “ketone bodies” in your urine or blood, seen in tests. This is a sign of “diabetic ketoacidosis” – a problem you can get with diabetes whose signs include rapid weight loss, feeling sick or being sick, a sweet smell to your breath, a sweet or metallic taste in your mouth or a different odour to your urine or sweat.
if you have a kidney problem – your doctor may ask you to take a different medicine.
if you have a liver problem – your doctor may start you on a lower dose.
if you have a history of serious heart disease or if you have had a stroke.
if you are are on medicines to lower your blood pressure (anti-hypertensives) and have a history of low blood pressure (hypotension). if you have very high levels of glucose in your blood which may make you dehydrated (lose too much body fluid). Possible signs of dehydration are listed at the top of section 4, ‘Possible side effects’. Tell your doctor before you start taking Forxiga if you have any of these signs.
if you have or develop nausea (feeling sick), vomiting or fever or if you are not able to eat or drink. These conditions can cause dehydration. Your doctor may ask you to stop taking Forxiga until you recover to prevent dehydration.
if you often get infections of the urinary tract.
if you are 75 years old or older, you should not start taking Forxiga.
if you are taking another medicine for diabetes that contains “pioglitazone”, you should not start taking Forxiga.
if you have an increase in the amount of red blood cells in your blood, seen in tests.
Side Effects
low blood sugar levels (hypo-glycaemia) – especially when taking this medicine with a sulphonylurea or insulin
Signs of low blood sugar include (but are not limited to): shaking, sweating, feeling very anxious, fast heart beat, feeling hungry, headache, change in vision, a change in your mood or feeling confused.
genital infection (thrush) of your penis or vagina (signs may include irritation, itching, unusual discharge or odour)
back pain
passing more water (urine) than usual or needing to pass water more often
changes in the amount of cholesterol or fats in your blood (shown in tests)
changes in the amount of red blood cells in your blood (shown in tests)
