The NHS has told people on a commonly prescribed medication to seek immediate medical help if they experience any of three specific side effects. These are some of the serious complications linked to dapagliflozin.
Marketed under the brand name Forxiga, dapagliflozin is chiefly used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. However, it is also given to patients with heart failure and chronic kidney disease.
While exact figures for yearly dapagliflozin prescriptions throughout the UK are not known, it is among the costliest medicines, with the NHS spending roughly £300m per year on it in England alone. Dapagliflozin can also be provided alongside other diabetes drugs. These include Xigduo (dapagliflozin with metformin) and Qtern (dapagliflozin with saxagliptin).
However, the NHS has warned on its website that “like all medicines”, dapagliflozin can cause particular unwanted effects. The health service advised you should “call your doctor or call 111 now” if:
Nevertheless, these adverse effects are classified as “rare”, impacting less than one in 10,000 individuals. There are more frequent side effects, which manifest in over one in 100 people.
The NHS explained: “They’re usually mild and do not last long. There are things you can do to help cope with them.”
These adverse reactions comprise:
The NHS recommended: “Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if the advice on how to cope does not help and a side effect is still bothering you or does not go away.” Taking dapagliflozin alongside other diabetes treatments, including insulin or sulfonylureas such as gliclazide, can occasionally cause blood sugar levels to plummet excessively.
Certain people on dapagliflozin may also develop diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). This medical emergency arises when insulin levels in the body become critically depleted, leading to a dangerous build-up of substances called ketones. Warning signs of DKA can include:
According to the NHS: “Symptoms usually develop over 24 hours, but can come on faster. Your doctor will show you how to monitor your ketone and blood sugar levels, and what to do if this happens.
“You’ll learn how to recognise the symptoms of DKA and what to do about it.” Anyone experiencing a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to dapagliflozin should ring 999 immediately for emergency assistance.
