Dapagliflozin+metformin
About Dapagliflozin+metformin
Dapagliflozin+metformin is a prescription oral tablet used to manage high blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. By combining two distinct blood sugar-lowering actions, this medication helps control glucose levels and supports long-term diabetes management. It is prescribed alongside a personalised diet and physical activity plan to achieve the best therapeutic results.
To ensure its effectiveness, you should take Dapagliflozin+metformin consistently at the same times every day as directed by your healthcare provider. It is generally recommended to take this tablet with food, which helps minimise the chance of experiencing a temporary upset stomach. Combining this medication with healthy lifestyle choices, such as eating high-fibre foods and engaging in regular exercise, significantly enhances your blood sugar control.
While many patients tolerate this medicine well, some may experience mild side effects like a temporary upset stomach or mild urinary tract infections. It is critical to contact your doctor immediately if you experience signs of rare but serious issues, such as severe dehydration, unusual muscle pain, or rapid, deep breathing. Your healthcare provider will monitor your progress to ensure the medicine is working safely for you.
Do not take this if you have severe kidney disease, liver damage, or a history of diabetic ketoacidosis. Before starting Dapagliflozin+metformin, it is highly important to discuss your complete medical history with your doctor, especially if you have heart failure, moderate kidney issues, or a history of frequent urinary tract infections. Your doctor will evaluate if this specific combination is safe for your organs.
This medication can interact with other substances, such as iodinated contrast dyes used in medical scans or heavy alcohol consumption, both of which can increase the risk of a rare but serious metabolic condition. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, planning a pregnancy, or are an elderly patient, you must consult your healthcare provider to discuss alternative options. Always disclose all prescription and over-the-counter medicines you are currently taking.
Uses of Dapagliflozin+metformin
Medicinal Benefits
Dapagliflozin+metformin helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels while providing long-term benefits for your overall health. With regular use, it supports steady energy levels, reduces the risk of diabetes-related complications, and promotes heart and kidney health.
- Helps Maintain Stable Blood Sugar and Energy Levels: By keeping your blood sugar within a healthy range, this medicine helps reduce the sluggishness and fatigue associated with high blood glucose, supporting consistent energy throughout the day.
- Protects Against Long-Term Diabetes Complications: Consistent blood sugar control helps lower the risk of complications such as kidney damage, vision loss, and nerve damage in the hands and feet, supporting long-term health.
- Supports Heart and Kidney Health: One of the active ingredients helps remove excess sodium and water from the body, reducing strain on the heart while supporting cardiovascular and kidney health.
Directions for Use
- Take Dapagliflozin+metformin with meals or as advised by your doctor.
- It is advised to take Dapagliflozin+metformin once daily; however, follow your doctor's recommendation regarding the dosage and duration.
- Swallow it as a whole with a glass of water.
- Do not crush, chew or break it.
Storage
Side Effects of Dapagliflozin+metformin
Common Side Effects (Usually mild):
- Nausea, gas, or mild stomach discomfort
- Diarrhoea or loose stools
- Genital yeast infections (due to increased sugar in your urine)
- Mild urinary tract infections
- Increased urination
Serious Side Effects (Consult a doctor right away):
- Unusual muscle pain, trouble breathing, deep or rapid breathing, extreme sleepiness, or feeling cold in your hands and feet.
- Extreme thirst, dry mouth, dizziness, confusion, or passing very little urine.
- High fever, severe burning while urinating, pelvic pain, or foul-smelling discharge.
- Swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, severe skin rash, itching, difficulty swallowing, or trouble breathing.
Medicines Containing this Salt
View AllDrug Warnings
- Hydration is key: Keep a water bottle with you and drink fluids regularly to prevent dry mouth and dizziness.
- Limit alcohol: Avoid drinking heavy amounts of alcohol while taking this medicine, as it can significantly increase your risk of lactic acidosis.
- Check prior to medical scans: Tell your medical team you take Dapagliflozin+metformin before any scan requiring iodinated contrast dye, as you may need to temporarily pause the medicine.
- Watch for yeast infections: Be alert to itching, burning, or discharge in genital areas, and seek prompt treatment if these symptoms develop.
- Inform surgeons before procedures: If you are planning to have surgery, talk to your doctor, as you may need to stop taking Dapagliflozin+metformin several days before the operation to avoid complications.
Drug Interactions
- Contrast Media (Iodinated Dyes): May increase the risk of kidney issues and lactic acidosis; the medication is usually stopped temporarily before and after the procedure.
- Diuretics (Water Pills): May increase the risk of dehydration and low blood pressure when combined with Dapagliflozin+metformin.
- Insulin and Sulfonylureas: May increase the risk of low blood sugar when combined with this medicine, requiring a dose adjustment of your other diabetes medications.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeIt is advised to avoid alcohol intake since it may worsen the side effects like lactic acidosis and increase the risk of developing low blood sugar levels.
Pregnancy
unsafeDapagliflozin in Dapagliflozin+metformin is not recommended during the second or third trimester of pregnancy. Your doctor may suggest other medications to control your blood sugar levels. Please consult your doctor before starting Dapagliflozin+metformin if you are pregnant or planning to conceive.
Breast Feeding
unsafeDapagliflozin+metformin may be unsafe to use during breastfeeding since it is excreted into the breast milk. Please seek medical advice for further information.
Driving
unsafeYour driving may be affected if your blood sugar levels are too high or too low. Do not drive or operate machinery if you also experience blurred vision, dizziness or drowsiness due to extremely low or high blood sugar.
Liver
consult your doctorLet your doctor know if you have any history of liver diseases or hepatic impairment when prescribed Dapagliflozin+metformin.
Kidney
unsafeDapagliflozin+metformin is contraindicated in patients with severe renal impairment/kidney diseases. Let your doctor know if you have any history of kidney diseases when you are prescribed Dapagliflozin+metformin.
Children
unsafeDapagliflozin+metformin is not recommended for people younger than 18 years of age.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Stay adequately hydrated: Because this medicine removes sugar and fluid through your urine, make sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day to prevent dehydration.
- Follow a low-glycemic diet: Focus on whole foods, lean proteins, high-fibre vegetables, and complex carbohydrates while limiting sugary snacks, white bread, and sodas.
- Maintain a consistent exercise routine: Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity, like brisk walking, per week to help your muscles use glucose more effectively.
- Monitor your blood sugar: Check your blood sugar levels regularly as advised by your doctor, and keep a log of the readings to share at your next medical appointment.
- Perform daily foot self-checks: Diabetes can affect blood flow and nerve endings in your feet. Inspect your feet daily for any cuts, blisters, redness, or swelling.
Special Advise
It is advised to monitor your blood sugar levels regularly.
If you need to undergo any x-ray or CT scan using a dye that should be injected into your veins, your doctor may suggest you stop taking Dapagliflozin+metformin temporarily.
Regular monitoring of kidney functioning is advised while using Dapagliflozin+metformin.
Dapagliflozin+metformin may make you test positive for a urine glucose test, hence inform your doctor in advance that you take Dapagliflozin+metformin.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Diabetes mellitus, also known as adult-onset diabetes, is a metabolic disease that causes high blood sugar levels. It is type 2 diabetes and occurs when the insulin (a hormone produced by the beta cells of the pancreas) is resistant in breaking the glucose to produce energy (insulin resistance) or the pancreas (an organ behind the stomach) produces little or no insulin at all. This disease mostly occurs in people aged above 40 years, but can also occur in childhood based on the risk factors. The treatment includes oral glucose-lowering medicines and insulin shots.
FAQs
Dapagliflozin+metformin belongs to the class of antidiabetic drugs, primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus with a proper diet and exercise. Dapagliflozin+metformin also lowers the risk of heart failure in type 2 diabetic patients with heart diseases.
Dapagliflozin+metformin contains two antidiabetic medicines: Metformin and Dapagliflozin. These drugs lower the blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus by eliminating excess sugars through urine and also by increasing the activity of insulin.
Dapagliflozin+metformin may cause low blood sugar levels (hypoglycaemia) and can make you hungry, dizzy, irritable, confused, anxious, or shaky. Hence, it is advised to take Dapagliflozin+metformin with a meal. To immediately treat hypoglycaemia, it is advised to eat or drink fast-acting sugar sources like fruit juices, hard candy, raisins or non-diet soda.
Your doctor may advise Dapagliflozin+metformin with or without other medications to control your blood sugar levels. However, it is advised to maintain a proper diet and exercise to achieve the controlled blood sugar levels while using Dapagliflozin+metformin with or without other antidiabetic drugs.
Dapagliflozin+metformin should be used with caution in heart, kidney or liver diseases, breathing problems (asthma, obstructive lung disease), blood disorders (anaemia, vitamin B12 deficiency), dehydration, alcohol use, low blood pressure, pancreas problems/surgery, and yeast infection of genitals. Dapagliflozin+metformin is contraindicated in patients with severe renal impairment and metabolic acidosis/diabetic ketoacidosis.
While using Dapagliflozin+metformin, if you experience vomiting, stomach/abdominal pain, muscle cramps, sick feeling, severe tiredness, difficulty in breathing, or reduced body temperature and heartbeat, it is important to seek immediate medical help since these are the symptoms of lactic acidosis. Lactic acidosis is a rare but serious complication caused due to accumulation of metformin. It is a medical emergency and needs immediate treatment. Please consult your doctor for further information.
It is not recommended to use Dapagliflozin+metformin along with water pills/diuretics. Simultaneous use of Dapagliflozin+metformin and water pills causes dehydration and may increase the risk of lactic acidosis.
Take the missed dose as soon as possible. However, if it is time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double the dose.
The side effects of Dapagliflozin+metformin include headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat and genital infections. If these side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor.
You are recommended to consult your doctor before taking Dapagliflozin+metformin with insulin as it may increase the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). You may need a dose adjustment or regular monitoring of blood sugar to use these medicines safely.
No, avoid taking Dapagliflozin+metformin if you have any kidney problems, as it works by excreting excess sugar through urine.
No, usually Dapagliflozin+metformin does not cause loss of body weight. On the other hand, rapid loss of body weight is a sign of a Diabetic ketoacidosis, a serious medical condition.
No, Dapagliflozin+metformin is only useful in type 2 diabetes mellitus, in which the body either produces less amount of insulin or cannot utilise it.
No, this medicine is generally not recommended during pregnancy. If you are planning a pregnancy or become pregnant, talk to your doctor to switch to a safer blood sugar-lowering treatment.
Persistent, severe diarrhoea can lead to dehydration and increase the risk of side effects. Stop taking the medicine temporarily and talk to your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
It is highly recommended to limit or avoid alcohol, especially heavy drinking, because it increases the risk of a rare but life-threatening condition called lactic acidosis. Talk to your doctor about safe alcohol limits.
One of the active ingredients causes your body to pass more sugar and water out through your urine. Drinking plenty of water prevents dehydration and reduces the risk of urinary tract infections. Talk to your doctor if you struggle to stay hydrated.
You must inform your surgeon or radiologist that you are taking Dapagliflozin+metformin. You may need to stop taking the medicine temporarily before major surgery or scans involving iodinated contrast dyes. Talk to your doctor for specific instructions.
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