Pharmacy
What is it for?
This Dapagliflozin is a once-daily oral medication that is used to control blood glucose (sugar) levels in people with type 2 diabetes. It does this by helping the kidneys remove glucose from the body via your urine. It belongs to a group of medicines called sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors (known as “gliflozins”).
For patients with heart failure, it can be helpful at reducing the worsening of heart failure symptoms and lower hospital admissions caused by these. It can also be effective in people with heart failure who do not have type 2 diabetes.
Dapagliflozin is not for weight loss or blood pressure management, but it can help with both.
How do I take them?
The usual starting dose is one 10 mg tablet once daily. We normally recommend taking it in the morning. It can be taken with or without food. You should try to stay well hydrated when taking dapagliflozin. Try to drink several glasses of water each day.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Do not take an extra dose to compensate for your missed medication, and if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose, you should skip the previously missed dose.
Medicines sick day rules
If you are unwell with any of the following:
- Fevers
- Sweats and shaking
- Vomiting or diarrhoea (unless minor)
- Any condition that stops you eating and drinking properly
What are the side effects?
Common side effects can affect about 1 in 10 people taking dapagliflozin, and include:
- Urine infections, passing urine more often or feeling an urgent need to pass urine
What can I do if I experience this?
Continue to drink plenty of water to replace the fluids you are losing. If symptoms become troublesome, speak with your GP Practice. - Yeast infections of the genitals (thrush)
What can I do if I experience this?
Ask your pharmacist to recommend a suitable treatment to relieve your symptoms. Let your doctor know if you experience repeated infections. Yeast infections can also be a sign your blood sugar level is not well controlled. - Symptoms of hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar): feeling shaky or anxious, sweating, looking pale, feeling hungry, feeling that your heart is pounding (palpitations), feeling dizzy
What can I do if I experience this?
Eat something containing sugar, such as a biscuit or a sugary drink (not diet) and follow this up with a snack such as a sandwich. Tell your doctor if you notice these symptoms. - Red or itchy skin, skin rashes
What can I do if I experience this?
Use a moisturising cream. Let your doctor know if itchy skin becomes troublesome or if a rash is severe or continues. - Feeling thirsty
What can I do if I experience this?
Always try to drink several glasses of water each day
On rare occasions, treatment with dapagliflozin can raise the levels of certain chemicals, called ketones, in your blood. This can lead to a serious condition called diabetic ketoacidosis.
Contact your doctor, nurse or pharmacist straightaway if you notice any combination of the following symptoms:
- A sweet smell (pear drops) to your breath, a sweet or metallic taste in your mouth or a different smell to your sweat or urine.
- Feeling or being sick, tummy (abdominal) pains.
- Feeling very thirsty, losing weight quickly, breathing unusually quickly or having difficulty with breathing.
- Confusion, excessive tiredness or sleepiness.
Important
You should seek urgent medical attention if you experience severe pain, tenderness, redness, or swelling in the genital or perineal area (the part of your body between your genitals and your anus or back passage), accompanied by fever or malaise-urogenital infection or perineal abscess may precede more serious infections (such as necrotising fasciitis).
Contact us
If you require further information please contact the heart failure team on:
Telephone: 01642 835865
Email: [email protected]
Patient experience
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust would like your feedback. If you wish to share your experience about your care and treatment or on behalf of a patient, please contact The Patient Experience Department who will advise you on how best to do this.
This service is based at The James Cook University Hospital but also covers the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton, our community hospitals and community health services.
To ensure we meet your communication needs please inform the Patient Experience Department of any special requirements, for example; braille or large print.
T: 01642 835964
E: [email protected]