Farxiga is the trade name given to a class of medication in prescription drugs that falls under the class of new-age drugs, termed as SGLT2 inhibitors or sodium-glucose cotransporter 2. The class has gained tremendous popularity over the last two years, and it is considered one of the essential drugs for type 2 diabetes, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease. All these novel benefits, apart from lowering the blood sugar levels, some added cardiovascular and renal advantages became one of the cornerstones in management. So, as a step towards getting familiar with this drug, what Farxiga (Dapagliflozin) is, how it works, approved uses, benefits, potential risks, and much more will be covered in the following pages.
What is Farxiga (Dapagliflozin)?
Dapagliflozin, under the brand name Farxiga (Dapagliflozin), was the first oral agent approved for type 2 diabetes. Its expanded indications included use since it was approved by the FDA in 2014 and now has another indication of treating heart failure and CKD with or without any known case of diabetes.
The mechanism of action for Farxiga works through the inhibition of s with SGLT2 and this action reduces blood sugar levels within the type 2 diabetic patient, while importantly also protecting not just the heart but the kidneys as well. In this regard, it would serve to not only treat the patient’s diabetes but hopefully multiple other conditions as well.
How Does Farxiga (Dapagliflozin) Work?
The drug works as follows. Assume you know first what the SGLT2 receptor does within the kidney. It reabsorbs glucose into the blood after the blood filters through them. To this type 2 diabetes patient, excessive glucose in the blood causes vessel, kidney, and nerve damage.
The drug Farxiga is an antagonist of the SGLT2 receptor. An antagonist is that kind of drug that binds to the receptor, so Farxiga would trigger the disease in which glucose would not be reabsorbed back by the body and spill excess sugar in the urine. That would subsequently lead to low blood glucose, so hence maintaining better control of diabetes. It also exerts some diuretic effect by the elimination of extra sodium and water in the body, thus relieving the heart and the kidneys of extra workload. It is a medicine like Alzheimer’s Disease.
Approved Indications of Farxiga (Dapagliflozin)
There are many approved indications of the drug that establish a high therapeutic potential of the drug:
1. Indeed: it also brought down the patients’ blood sugar levels more when used in conduction with diet and exercise. It is not approved for use in patients diagnosed with either the type of form 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis, so Farxiga will surely be an especially useful choice for those diagnosed with type 2 diabetes to control the glucose level better.
2. Heart Failure: Farxiga is approved to reduce cardiovascular death and hospitalization for heart failure in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, whose pumping function of the heart was severely decreased. For many, it was a lifeline because the drug was bringing down fluid build-up thereby relieving the heart of overdose work.
3. Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD): The FDA approved Farxiga for CKD in 2021 for type 2 diabetes-treated patients and patients not so treated. It is a disease in which slow loss of functions of kidneys creates an increased buildup of waste products within the body. It slows the progression of CKD, enhances the working of the kidneys, and lowers the loss of proteins through urine thereby delaying its reference for dialysis or transplantations.
Benefit Farxiga (Dapagliflozin)
Farxiga benefits glucose lowering. The benefits include the following.
1. Good Blood Sugar Control
More benefits that the type 2 diabetes drug Farxiga offers to its patients are associated with treatment once the blood sugar level has been reduced. As an inhibitor of the glucose reabsorption action of the kidneys, Farxiga functions by lowering glucose levels within the body. Better control shall be achievable in the case of diabetes with its use combined with metformin or insulin and other drugs associated with diabetes.
2. Cardiovascular Protection
That would risk fewer less adverse cardiovascular events, including myocardial infarction and stroke; other than hospitalizations for heart failure.
One may argue that the most exciting finding about Farxiga is it has been given the promise to afford substantial proportional mortality reduction in patients who are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and heart failure. It has never injured the patients who also stand at the risk of suffering from cardiovascular diseases; frequently it has been associated with suffering patients diagnosed with diabetes.
Renal Health (Dapagliflozin)
It also slows down the progression of diabetic and non-diabetic chronic kidney diseases. Farxiga reduces leakage of proteins into urine and makes reversal of renal function that preserved the kidneys and lessened the chances to suffer from end-stage renal disease such as dialysis and transplant.
Weight Loss (Dapagliflozin)
Most patients on Farxiga suffer from quite minor to moderate weight loss as part of adverse drug reactions. This is because glucose that would otherwise be used for deposition of body fat is lost in the urine. This may, on the brighter side, constitute a secondary welcome benefit to those overweight and obese type 2 diabetes patients still struggling to improve their health in general.
Low Blood Pressure (Dapagliflozin)
Generally, Farxiga can be regarded as a poor diuretic, which occupies only volume in an organism and then releases excess sodium and water. The drug lowers the blood pressure of patients suffering from such conditions as hypertension and heart failure. Sometimes, such lowering can be considered as a kind of prevention of such diseases as a heart attack or a stroke and many other complications that may occur within the cardiovascular system.
Potential Harmful Side Effects and Complications
Despite these effects, the side effects exist. The reaction of the drug to the patient changes; some patients will be having adverse effects.
Common Adverse Side Effects
Some of the common adverse effects include the following
Urinary infection
Genital infection (yeast infection)
Increased frequency in urinating
Dehydration due to increased excretion
Nausea
Fatigue
Most of the side effects are minor and bearable. However, in some situations, they become painful for the patient.
Serious Complications
In addition to the previously stated minor complications, patients on Farxiga are also at risk of experiencing serious complications that are
Ketoacidosis: This is the disease diabetic ketoacidosis wherein the body attains lethal concentrations of ketones, and this is a rare complication that could potentially afflict any patient on therapy with Farxiga, and unless treated in a patient on drugs like Farxiga, diabetic ketoacidosis is disastrous, culminating in coma and death. The symptoms for this patient include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and confusion. Accordingly, these symptoms can aptly refer a patient for admission into an emergency room.
Dehydration and Hypotension: Dehydration and hypotension result from the action of Farxiga due to its diuretic effects. Accordingly, it is advisable that this patient should receive proper hydration once they are put on this medication.
It causes acute kidney failure, especially in a patient who has a history of diseases in his/her kidneys. His kidney function should regularly be followed while he/she is under this medication.
Fournier’s Gangrene: Extremely rare kinds of genital gangrene and sexually transmitted. This primarily presents due to infection of the genital region and that which is near to it. Of this medication, SGLT2 inhibitor Farxiga, was documented on this adverse effect. Symptoms of this disease feature with the type of pain and redness of the genital areas.
Interactions
Farxiga can interact with other drugs. Some of those include;
The patient should be counseled on the drugs prescribed in his treatment schedule and should be educated to be informed of drug-drug interaction.
Who Should Not Be Prescribed Farxiga (Dapagliflozin)?
Not all patients are qualified to undergo Farxiga (Dapagliflozin). This should not be given to patients that have among others;
Type 1 diabetes
DKA
Severe kidney diseases or even the patient is undergoing dialysis
Patients with a prior medical history of severe hypersensitivity reaction to dapagliflozin or any of the components present in Farxiga
Conclusion
Indeed, Farxiga is one of the few new medications that are hugely impactful and potent in managing type 2 diabetes, heart failure, as well as chronic kidney disease.
Farxiga drug mechanism of action is specific. It controls the glucose reabsorption in the kidneys that also offers some other benefits apart from blood sugar regulation. Like all other drugs, it has a risk and side effect, so once again here farxiga works on the same pattern. Here again, all the patients on farxiga must line up with their healthcare provider so that the medicine taken is safe and works correctly for them. These are well-documented cardiovascular and renal benefits; so, it is a giant leap in managing chronic diseases and improving the quality of life for millions of patients worldwide.
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