Key takeaways

  • Farxiga, a medication prescribed for type 2 diabetes and other indications, can cause both mild and serious side effects. Specific side effects and their severity can vary from person to person.
  • You may experience weight loss, genital-related issues (such as yeast infections), and low blood sugar, especially when Farxiga is combined with insulin or other diabetes medications.
  • Discuss your health and medical history with your doctor before starting Farxiga. Pre-existing conditions and alcohol use may increase the risk of adverse reactions.

Farxiga (dapagliflozin) is a prescription drug for treating type 2 diabetes, among other uses. Farxiga can cause side effects that range from mild to serious.

Specifically, Farxiga is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the following uses:

  • to treat type 2 diabetes in adults and children ages 10 years and older (when used along with diet and exercise)
  • to reduce the risk of hospitalization for heart failure in adults with type 2 diabetes who also have heart disease or multiple risk factors for heart disease
  • to reduce the risk of hospitalization and death in adults with heart failure
  • to reduce the risk of the following events in adults with chronic kidney disease:
    • worsening kidney function
    • hospitalization for heart failure
    • cardiovascular death

The active ingredient in Farxiga is dapagliflozin. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) The drug comes as an oral tablet that you take once daily.

Farxiga can cause certain side effects, some more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. Talk with your doctor if side effects do not go away, get worse, or become too difficult to tolerate.

Farxiga’s commonly reported side effects include:

For more information about some of these side effects, see the “Tips for managing side effects” section.

Mild side effects have been reported with Farxiga. These include:

  • weight loss
  • genital-related side effects
  • pain in the back, arms, or legs
  • constipation
  • nausea
  • high cholesterol
  • urinary tract infection (UTI)
  • the flu
  • stuffy or runny nose and sore throat
  • discomfort when urinating or needing to urinate more often than usual

In most cases, these side effects should be temporary, and some may be easily managed. But if you have symptoms that are ongoing or bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Do not stop taking Farxiga unless your doctor recommends it.

Farxiga may cause mild side effects other than the ones listed above. See the Farxiga prescribing information for details.

For more information about some of these side effects, see the “Tips for managing side effects” section.

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Farxiga may cause serious side effects. The following list may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Farxiga’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Farxiga, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects that have been reported with Farxiga include:

For more information about some of these side effects, see the “Tips for managing side effects” section.

Note: After the FDA approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medication safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while taking Farxiga and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Allergic reaction

For some people, Farxiga can cause an allergic reaction.

In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should keep taking Farxiga.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Farxiga, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

There may be things you can do to help make certain Farxiga side effects more manageable. If you have ongoing, worsening, or bothersome side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can suggest tips for managing them or recommend other available treatment options for your condition.

Weight loss

Some people may experience weight loss while taking Farxiga. This may be due to the way the drug works. Farxiga helps your body eliminate sugar through your urine, which means your body doesn’t absorb it. This can cause weight loss.

What might help

If you’re concerned about weight loss during Farxiga treatment, talk with your doctor. They can recommend ways to manage your weight, or they may recommend a different medication to treat your condition.

Genital-related side effects

Some people may experience genital-related side effects from taking Farxiga. Some of these side effects, such as yeast infection, occurred often in people taking Farxiga in studies. But some serious side effects, such as Fournier’s gangrene, were less common.

It’s important that you’re aware of the genital-related side effects that Farxiga may cause so you know the symptoms to watch for during treatment.

A yeast infection of the vagina or penis was common in people taking Farxiga in studies. Symptoms, which occur in the area of the genitals, include the following:

  • rash, or redness or discoloration
  • itching
  • burning
  • swelling
  • pain or soreness

In rare cases, Farxiga can cause Fournier’s gangrene, which can be life threatening. With this condition, an infection can occur on the genitals or nearby areas. Symptoms include:

What might help

If you develop any genital-related side effects, talk with your doctor to determine the cause of your side effects.

If you have a yeast infection, your doctor can prescribe medication to treat it. If you develop Fournier’s gangrene, your doctor will recommend that you start taking antibiotics right away. They’ll also have you stop taking Farxiga and switch to a different medication to treat your condition. For Fournier’s gangrene, you may also need treatment in a hospital.

Low blood sugar level

Low blood sugar is possible during treatment with Farxiga. But in studies, Farxiga caused low blood sugar mostly when taken with insulin or other medications that increase your insulin levels.

If you take other medications for your diabetes, be sure to tell your doctor before you start Farxiga treatment. While taking Farxiga, you should watch for symptoms of low blood sugar, such as:

What might help

If you’re taking Farxiga with other diabetes drugs, your doctor may recommend that you monitor your blood sugar more often to make sure it doesn’t get too low.

You should talk with your doctor about what to do if your blood sugar does get too low. They may recommend that you carry glucose tablets or drink some juice or soda to increase your blood sugar levels.

In addition, your doctor may recommend decreasing your dose of your other diabetes medications when you first start taking Farxiga or if you’re experiencing low blood sugar. This may help prevent low blood sugar.

Dehydration

Farxiga may cause dehydration (low fluid levels) in some people. But this was not a common side effect in people taking Farxiga in studies.

In some cases, severe dehydration can lead to kidney problems, which can be serious.

You may have a higher risk of becoming dehydrated if you are:

These conditions cause you to lose fluid in your body, which can raise your risk of dehydration.

If you have any of these risk factors, talk with your doctor. They will likely recommend that you watch for any symptoms of dehydration throughout your Farxiga treatment. These symptoms include:

  • dizziness
  • weakness
  • headache
  • feeling faint or lightheaded
  • dry mouth or increased thirst
  • decreased urination
  • constipation

What might help

Before starting Farxiga treatment, talk with your doctor about what to do if you develop symptoms of dehydration. They can recommend ways to help prevent and treat dehydration.

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Farxiga side effects.

Do certain side effects occur only when taking Farxiga for heart failure problems?

The possible side effects of Farxiga are very similar regardless of the condition you’re taking the drug to treat. In studies, there were no major differences in side effects reported by people taking Farxiga for type 2 diabetes, heart failure, or chronic kidney disease.

But it’s possible that you may have a higher risk of certain side effects if you take Farxiga for heart failure. For example, if you’re also taking a diuretic medication such as furosemide (Lasix), this could increase your risk of dehydration.

Your doctor will monitor you for side effects throughout Farxiga treatment. They can also tell you the side effects to watch for based on your condition and your other medications.

Can Farxiga cause hair loss?

No, Farxiga should not cause hair loss. This was not a side effect reported in studies of people taking Farxiga.

But it’s possible that diabetes or heart disease can cause hair loss. (Doctors prescribe Farxiga to people with type 2 diabetes or heart disease in certain situations.) This is due to having too much sugar in your blood, which can cause damage to the blood supply that nourishes your hair.

If you experience bothersome hair loss while taking Farxiga, talk with your doctor. They can try to determine what’s causing the hair loss and the best way to treat it.

Is the risk of side effects lower with the 5-mg dose of Farxiga than with the 10-mg dose?

It depends. Generally, taking a higher dose of medication will increase your risk of side effects. But in studies of Farxiga, some side effects were reported just as often in people taking a dose of 5 milligrams (mg) per day as in people taking a 10-mg dose.

If you’re taking 10 mg of Farxiga per day and are experiencing bothersome side effects, talk with your doctor. They may recommend decreasing your dosage to 5 mg per day, or they may recommend a different treatment option for your condition.

Do Farxiga’s side effects usually go away? Are any long term?

Most of Farxiga’s side effects are mild, and they may go away after your body adjusts to taking the medication. But some side effects may be considered more long term. Examples include:

If you’re concerned about long-term side effects, or if you develop bothersome side effects during treatment, talk with your doctor. They may recommend a different treatment option for your condition or recommend ways to ease your side effects.

Will taking Farxiga cause erectile dysfunction?

No, you should not experience erectile dysfunction (ED) from taking Farxiga. This was not a side effect that was reported in studies of people taking this medication.

But if you have diabetes that’s not well managed or heart disease, it can lead to damage to your blood vessels. Over time, this can cause ED. Keeping your blood sugar levels within a healthy range can help lower your risk of blood vessel damage, which can also decrease your risk of ED.

If you’re experiencing ED, talk with your doctor. They may be able to recommend another medication, such as sildenafil (Viagra), to treat your condition. They may also be able to determine what’s causing your ED and the best way to treat it.

Before taking Farxiga, discuss your health history with your doctor. Farxiga may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

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.