Dapagliflozin is used to decrease blood sugar levels in persons with type 2 diabetes together with diet, exercise, and perhaps additional drugs (condition in which blood sugar is too high because the body does not produce or use insulin normally). Those with type 2 diabetes, heart disease, blood vessel disease, or several risk factors for developing heart and blood vessel disease are also treated with it to lower their likelihood of having to be hospitalised for heart failure. Adults with heart failure may also use dapagliflozin to lower their risk of hospitalisation and mortality from heart and blood vessel disease. When used on adults with renal disease, it also lessens their chance of their condition getting worse, of having to go to the hospital for heart failure, and of dying from heart disease. Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, which include dapagliflozin, are a class of drugs. As a result, the kidneys excrete more glucose in urine, which reduces blood sugar. Diabetes type 1 and diabetic ketoacidosis are not treated with dapagliflozin since these conditions are caused by the body’s inability to generate insulin (a serious condition that may develop if high blood sugar is not treated).

Those with diabetes and high blood sugar over time may experience serious or fatal complications, such as heart disease, stroke, kidney issues, nerve damage, and vision issues. Taking dapagliflozin, altering your lifestyle (such as your food, getting more exercise, and giving up smoking), and monitoring your blood sugar frequently may help you manage your diabetes and enhance your health. This treatment may also lower your risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, nerve damage (resulting in numb, cold legs or feet and diminished sex capacity in both men and women), eye issues, such as changes in eyesight or blindness, or gum disease, which are all symptoms of diabetes. The optimal strategy to manage your diabetes will be discussed with you by your doctor and other healthcare professionals.

Dapagliflozin is available as an oral tablet. It is typically taken once day, with or without food. Take dapagliflozin every day at about the same time. Ask your doctor or chemist to explain any instructions on your prescription label that you are unsure about following. Take dapagliflozin as prescribed by your doctor. Never take it in larger or less amounts or more frequently than directed by your doctor.

If necessary, your doctor may start you on a low dose of dapagliflozin and then increase it.

Although it does not treat your illness, dapagliflozin aids in controlling it. Dapagliflozin should be taken even if you feel fine. Without consulting your doctor, do not discontinue taking dapagliflozin.

The patient information leaflet (Medication Guide) from the manufacturer will be provided to you by your doctor or chemist when you start taking dapagliflozin and at each time you get a new prescription. If you have any questions, carefully read the information and ask your doctor or chemist. The Medication Guide is also available on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website at http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm085729.htm.

Ask your doctor or chemist for more details if you believe this drug should be used for something else.

Before taking dapagliflozin,

• If you have an allergy to dapagliflozin, any other drugs, or any of the ingredients in dapagliflozin tablets, notify your doctor right away. For a list of the ingredients, consult the Medication Guide or speak with your chemist.
• Inform your doctor and chemist about any additional prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products you are now taking or intend to use. Incorporate any of the following: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors such captopril, benazepril, and lotensin, moexipril (Univasc, in Uniretic), perindopril (Aceon, in Prestalia), ramipril (Altace), and trandolapril (Mavik, in Tarka); enalapril (Vasotec, in Vaseretic), fosinopril, and lisinopril (in Zestoretic); ARBs include losartan (Esartan), eprosartan (Teveten), irbesartan (Avapro), candesartan (Atacand), and azilsartan (Edarbi, in Edarbyclor) (Cozaar, in Hyzaar), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), and telmisartan (Micardis, in Micardis HCT, in Twynsta); olmesartan (Benicar, in Azor, in Benicar HCT, in Tribenzor); and aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS); insulin, diuretics (often known as “water pills”), and diabetes drugs such glimepiride (Amaryl, in Duetact), glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase), and repaglinide (Prandin, in Prandimet).
• If you receive dialysis, let your doctor know. Your physician might advise against taking dapagliflozin.
• Inform your doctor if you routinely consume alcohol, occasionally consume significant amounts of alcohol quickly (binge drinking), or follow a low sodium diet. Inform your doctor if you have or have ever had kidney or liver disease, urinary tract infections, difficulty urinating, low blood pressure, genital yeast infections, pancreatic disease, heart failure, pancreatic disease, including pancreatitis (swelling of the pancreas), or if you have had surgery on your pancreas. Men should let their doctors know if they have never had circumcision. Additionally, inform your doctor if you are eating less due to an illness, surgery, or change in your diet, or if you have recently experienced vomiting or diarrhoea, not been drinking enough fluids, spent too much time in the sun, or have been perspiring a lot. Any of these conditions can lead to dehydration (loss of a large amount of body fluids).
• Inform your physician if you are nursing a baby, intend to become pregnant, or are already expectant. If you are taking dapagliflozin, you should not breastfeed. Call your doctor if you become pregnant while taking dapagliflozin.
• Inform your doctor or dentist that you are taking dapagliflozin if you are having surgery, including dental surgery. Most likely, your physician will advise you to stop taking dapagliflozin at least three days before to surgery.
• Alcohol may alter blood sugar levels. Inquire with your doctor if drinking alcohol is okay for you to do while taking dapagliflozin.
• You should be aware that dapagliflozin can make you feel weak, lightheaded, and dizzy when you stand up suddenly from a reclining position. Call your doctor if this is a concern of yours. As soon as you initially start taking dapagliflozin, this issue is more prevalent. Get out of bed gradually, resting your feet on the floor for a few minutes before standing up, to avoid this issue.
• See your doctor for advice if you become ill, suffer extraordinary stress, acquire an infection or fever, or if you sustain an injury. Your blood sugar levels and potential dosage of dapagliflozin may be impacted by these disorders.

Be sure to follow all exercise and dietary recommendations made by your doctor or dietitian. It is important to eat a healthful diet and exercise regularly.

Follow your doctor’s instructions about drinking enough fluids throughout the day while you are on this medication.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

This medication may cause changes in your blood sugar. You should know the symptoms of low and high blood sugar and what to do if you have these symptoms.

Dapagliflozin may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• Urinating a lot, including at night
• Increased thirst

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

• Frequent, throbbing, painful, or urgent urinating
• Hazy, red, pink, or brown urine
• Unpleasant-smelling urine
• Reduction in urine production
• Rectal or pelvic pain
• Vaginal odour, white or yellowish vaginal discharge that may be lumpy or resemble cottage cheese, or vaginal irritation are all common in women.
• Redness, rash, itching, or swelling of the penis; discharge from the penis that smells bad; or soreness in the area of skin around the penis (in men).
• Feeling exhausted, weak, or uneasy; fever; and genital discomfort, soreness, redness, or swelling; or the region between the genitalia and the rectum;
• The feet or legs swelling

You should stop taking dapagliflozin and contact your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms, or seek emergency medical attention:

• Rash
• Hives
• Itching
• Respiration or swallowing challenges
• Face, throat, tongue, lips, mouth, or eyes swelling
• Hoarseness

You should stop taking dapagliflozin and call your doctor right away if you see any of the following ketoacidosis symptoms. You should also seek emergency medical attention. If you experience any of the following symptoms, even if your blood sugar is less than 250 mg/dL, try to check for ketones in your urine:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Tiredness
• Having trouble breathing

Further negative effects of dapagliflozin are possible. If you experience any strange issues while taking this medicine, contact your doctor right away.

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting programme online or by phone if you have a serious side event (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medication tightly closed in the original container and out of the reach of children. Keep it away from excessive heat and moisture at room temperature (not in the bathroom).

Although many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org

Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilising a medicine take-back programme is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programmes in your area, speak with your chemist or the garbage/recycling agency in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back programme, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medications website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Moreover, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

Keep all of your appointments with your physician and the lab. Before and during your treatment, your doctor may likely request a few laboratory tests to monitor how your body is reacting to dapagliflozin.

You should routinely check your blood sugar levels to see how dapagliflozin affects you. To determine how well you are responding to dapagliflozin, your doctor may conduct further lab assessments, such as HbA1c (glycosylated haemoglobin). Your doctor will also instruct you on how to measure your blood sugar levels at home in order to monitor your reaction to this medicine. Pay close attention to these directions.

Inform the lab staff and your doctor that you are taking dapagliflozin prior to any laboratory test. Your urine may test positive for glucose because of the way this drug functions.

Wearing a diabetes identity bracelet will ensure that you receive the right care in an emergency.

No one else should take your medication. Any queries you may have regarding prescription refills should be directed to your chemist.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.