Farxiga (dapagliflozin) is a prescription drug that’s used for type 2 diabetes, heart failure, kidney disease, and other conditions. Farxiga comes as an oral tablet.

Farxiga is used in adults to:

  • help improve blood sugar levels in certain people with type 2 diabetes, along with diet and exercise
  • lower the risk of hospitalization or an urgent medical visit for heart failure in certain people with type 2 diabetes, heart failure, or kidney disease
  • lower the risk of death from a heart or blood vessel problem in certain people with heart failure or long-term kidney disease
  • help to prevent worsening kidney function in certain people with long-term kidney disease

There are certain cases in which Farxiga should not be taken to treat some of these conditions. To learn more, see the “What is Farxiga used for?” section below.

Farxiga basics

Farxiga contains the active ingredient dapagliflozin. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) It belongs to a group of drugs called sodium-glucose transport protein 2 inhibitors.

Farxiga is a brand-name medication that’s not currently available in a generic form.

Like most drugs, Farxiga may cause mild or serious side effects. The lists below describe some of the more common side effects that Farxiga may cause. These lists don’t include all possible side effects.

Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:

  • your age
  • other health conditions you have
  • other medications you take

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Farxiga. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.

Mild side effects

Below is a list of some of the mild side effects that Farxiga can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Farxiga’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects of Farxiga that have been reported include:

Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

* For more information about this side effect, see the “Allergic reaction” section below.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Farxiga can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from Farxiga, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects of Farxiga that have been reported include:

For more information about Farxiga’s side effects, you can refer to this detailed article.

* For more information about this side effect, see the “Allergic reaction” section below.

Allergic reaction

Some people may have an allergic reaction to Farxiga.

Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include:

A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet. They can also include swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat, which can cause trouble breathing.

Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to Farxiga. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.

Whether you have health insurance or not, cost may be a factor when you’re considering Farxiga. What you’ll pay for Farxiga may depend on several things, such as your treatment plan and the pharmacy you use.

Here are a few things to consider regarding cost:

  • Cost information and savings coupons: You can visit Optum Perks* to get price estimates of what you’d pay for Farxiga when using coupons from the site.
  • Savings program: If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. A Farxiga savings card and other resources may also be available on the manufacturer’s website.

For more details about Farxiga’s cost, you can see this in-depth article. You can also check out this article to learn more about saving money on prescriptions.

* Optum Perks is a sister site of Healthline. Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.

Your doctor will recommend the dosage of Farxiga that’s right for you. Below is the commonly used dosage, but always take the dosage your doctor prescribes.

Form and strengths

Farxiga comes as a tablet that you swallow. Two strengths are available: 5 milligrams (mg) and 10 mg.

Recommended dosage

You’ll take Farxiga once daily. Your doctor will recommend the daily dose that’s right for you. They’ll also tell you the drug’s maximum dose.

To learn more about Farxiga’s dosage, see this article.

Questions about taking Farxiga

Below are answers to some common questions about taking Farxiga.

  • Can Farxiga be chewed, crushed, or split? The drug’s manufacturer hasn’t studied whether it’s safe to chew, crush, or split Farxiga. So it’s best to swallow the tablets whole. If you have trouble taking Farxiga, check out this article or talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
  • Should I take Farxiga with food? You can take Farxiga with or without food.
  • Is there a best time of day to take Farxiga? It’s generally best to take Farxiga in the morning, to help avoid disturbing your sleep. The drug can cause urination. Also, taking Farxiga around the same time each day helps to keep a steady level of the drug in your body. This helps Farxiga work effectively.
  • What if I miss a dose of Farxiga? If you miss a dose of Farxiga, take it as soon as possible. But if it’s nearly time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Take your next scheduled dose as usual. Do not take an extra dose to make up for a missed dose. Doing so could cause side effects.
  • Will I need to take Farxiga long term? Yes. If Farxiga works for you without causing troublesome side effects, you’ll likely take it long term.
  • How long does Farxiga take to work? Farxiga starts working when you take your first dose. But it might take a few weeks for your blood sugar level to improve. It’s not known how long it takes for Farxiga to help lower the risk of complications from heart failure or kidney disease.

Overdose

Do not take more Farxiga than your doctor prescribes. Taking more than this can lead to serious side effects.

What to do in case you take too much Farxiga

Call your doctor if you think you’ve taken too much Farxiga. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 (or your local emergency number) or go to the nearest emergency room.

If you have type 2 diabetes, heart failure, or kidney disease, your doctor may recommend Farxiga. The drug is prescribed for different purposes in adults with these conditions.

Farxiga improves blood sugar levels by helping your body get rid of excess sugar in your urine. It lowers the risk of complications from heart failure and kidney disease by helping your body get rid of excess sodium and fluid. This lowers your blood pressure and helps reduce the strain on your heart, blood vessels, and kidneys.

Farxiga for type 2 diabetes

In people with type 2 diabetes, Farxiga is taken to help:

If you have type 2 diabetes, you’ll likely take Farxiga with one or more other diabetes medications. These will also help to lower your blood sugar level. Farxiga is commonly used together with metformin (Glumetza, Fortamet).

Farxiga for heart failure

In people with heart failure, Farxiga is taken to reduce the risk of:

  • hospitalization or urgent medical visit for heart failure
  • death from a cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) problem, such as:
    • heart failure

Your doctor may prescribe Farxiga with other medications for heart failure.

Farxiga for kidney disease

In people with chronic (long-term) kidney disease at risk of getting worse, Farxiga is taken to reduce the risk of:

  • worsening kidney function and end-stage kidney disease
  • hospitalization for heart failure
  • death from a cardiovascular problem, such as:
    • heart failure
    • heart attack
    • stroke
    • blood clot

Your doctor may prescribe Farxiga with other medications for kidney disease.

Limits of use

Doctors typically won’t prescribe Farxiga for the following uses because the drug may not be effective or safe:

Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about Farxiga.

How does Farxiga work?

Farxiga’s mechanism of action (how it works) is to make your kidneys filter more sugar, sodium, and water from your blood and into your urine. These substances then pass out of your body when you urinate.

In this way, Farxiga helps with the following:

  • In people with type 2 diabetes, it improves blood sugar levels by helping your body get rid of excess sugar.
  • In people at risk of being hospitalized or needing an urgent medical visit for heart failure, Farxiga reduces this risk by helping your body get rid of excess sodium and fluid. This lowers your blood pressure, making it easier for your heart to pump blood throughout your body.
  • In people with heart failure, Farxiga helps reduce symptoms caused by a buildup of fluid in your body. These symptoms include:
  • In people with heart failure or kidney disease, Farxiga lowers the risk of death from a cardiovascular problem by reducing the strain on your heart and blood vessels.
  • In people with kidney disease, Farxiga helps prevent worsening kidney damage by lowering your blood pressure and the pressure in your kidneys.

Can taking Farxiga lead to bladder cancer?

It’s not likely. A few cases of bladder cancer were reported in early studies of Farxiga. But there wasn’t enough information to know if the drug was involved in causing the cancer.

No links have been found between bladder cancer and Farxiga since the medication has been widely prescribed.

If you’re concerned about bladder cancer with Farxiga, talk with your doctor.

Farxiga and Jardiance belong to the same group of drugs, but contain different active ingredients. (Active ingredients are what makes a drug work.) While these drugs work in the same way, they have slightly different uses.

To learn more about how Farxiga and Jardiance are alike and different, see “Farxiga vs. Jardiance” in this article. And talk with your doctor about which drug is best for treating your condition.

Below is important information you should consider before taking Farxiga.

Interactions

Taking a medication with certain drugs, foods, and other things can affect how the medication works. These effects are called interactions.

Farxiga can interact with several other medications, as well as some herbs and supplements.

Before taking Farxiga, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, or supplements you take. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.

Drug interactions

Below is a list of medications that can interact with Farxiga. This list doesn’t contain all drugs that may interact with Farxiga. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Drug or drug groupDrug examples
certain diabetes drugs, particularly insulin or sulfonylureas• insulin glargine (Lantus, Toujeo)
• glipizide (Glucotrol XL)
blood pressure drugs*• valsartan (Diovan)
certain diuretics used to treat high blood pressure or edema (fluid buildup)• furosemide (Lasix)
• bumetanide
corticosteroids used to reduce inflammation (swelling and damage)• prednisone (Rayos)
• methylprednisolone (Medrol)
lithium, a drug for bipolar disorder—

* If you take blood pressure drugs with Farxiga, there is a risk that your blood pressure could become too low. Your doctor may recommend adjustments to your treatment plan to help prevent or manage potential interactions.

Other interactions

Farxiga can also interact with other substances such as:

  • Vitamins, herbs, or supplements: Tell your doctor before you start taking herbs or supplements with Farxiga. Some of them can affect your blood sugar levels, which could affect your Farxiga treatment.
  • Alcohol: Moderate amounts of alcohol should not interact with Farxiga. But heavy or frequent alcohol consumption can raise the risk of certain side effects of Farxiga. These include hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and ketoacidosis (too much acid in your blood). If you drink alcohol, be sure to ask your doctor how much is safe while taking this drug.
  • Lab tests or vaccines: If you’ll be having a urine test to check for glucose (sugar), let your doctor or other healthcare professional know you’re taking Farxiga. Farxiga will cause your urine to test positive for glucose. This is due to the way the drug works to reduce the level of sugar in your blood.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

While it’s very important to manage diabetes during pregnancy, it’s not known if Farxiga is safe to take during this time. It is not recommended that a person take Farxiga during the second and third trimesters.

If you’re pregnant or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor about other medications that may be better options for you.

Farxiga isn’t recommended if you’re breastfeeding. It’s not known if the drug passes into breast milk. But if it does, it could cause serious side effects in a child who’s breastfed.

If you’re breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed, ask your doctor to suggest other medications to treat your condition.

Warnings

Farxiga can sometimes cause harmful effects in people who have certain conditions. This is known as a drug-condition interaction. Other factors may also affect whether Farxiga is a good treatment option for you.

Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Farxiga. Be sure to tell them if any of the following factors apply to you:

Other drugs are available that can treat your condition. If you’d like to explore an alternative to Farxiga, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that might work well for you.

The following drugs are similar to Farxiga:

If you have any questions about taking Farxiga, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Questions you may want to ask include:

  • How effective is Farxiga?
  • Can I take Farxiga with my other medications?
  • Is there anything I’ll need to avoid while taking Farxiga?
  • Do I have a high risk of side effects with Farxiga?
  • If I have side effects with Farxiga, is it possible to adjust my dose?

To learn more about Farxiga, see these articles:

To get information on different conditions and tips for improving your health, subscribe to any of Healthline’s newsletters. You may also want to check out the online communities at Bezzy. It’s a place where people with certain conditions can find support and connect with others.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.

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