Dapagliflozin and Headaches: What Users Say

• Ana...
• June 14, 2019

Dapagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "I was on Farxiga for over two years and thought it was my wonder drug. My blood sugar control was excellent. All was well until a year ago when suddenly I was being flown by helicopter to the nearest ICU. I was in a coma and in end stage (DKA) Diabetic Ketoacidosis. I woke up three days later to learn what had happened to me. I was informed that the Farxiga was the cause. I haven’t fully recovered and have been unable to control my sugars since. I’m writing this to encourage people to educate themselves on what DKA is and the signs. My blood sugar was only 7 when I first went to the ER, and by the time I was being flown out, it had climbed to over 40. Signs for me we’re sudden onset weakness and shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, severe headache and muscle pain, loss of appetite leading to extreme breathing problems (kussmal breathing) and finally unconsciousness. Even though Health Canada had issued a warning concerning this risk, but I was never informed of it."

• Cmo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 22, 2023

Dapagliflozin for Heart Failure "I attempted 2 trial runs of Farxiga. Within two days of taking it, I had severe pain in my groin area that caused me to limp and difficulty getting up and down out of the chair. My kidneys felt like they were on fire with the pain. My blood glucose levels went up, and I had severe muscle cramping, constipation, weight gain, headaches, dry mouth, nausea, stomach cramps, severe pitting, and edema from my ankles up to my knees. I continued taking it for about 10 days. When I stopped taking it, within 24 hours the pain in my groin area stopped, and by 48 hours, my muscle cramps had stopped. My physician recommended I stop taking it for two weeks and then restart it. I followed the instructions, and all the above symptoms came back again. I stopped taking it, and again, most of my symptoms subsided. However, I still have constipation issues, fatigue, and some swelling in my legs."

• Tat...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 29, 2020

Dapagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "I had been taking Farxiga for a little over 2 years when I became sick. I started with freezing and burning up, a headache, and vomiting. Then my bottom started hurting. I waited 3 days and it kept getting worse. It was Thanksgiving Day of this year and I couldn’t stand it anymore, so I went to the ER. The next thing I knew, I was on my way to another hospital by ambulance to have surgery for Necrotizing fasciitis on my bottom, and it had spread into my bloodstream. I could have died really quickly if I hadn’t gone to the hospital. I really believe that Farxiga caused it. I told my doctor I wasn’t taking it anymore."

• Geo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 20, 2019

Dapagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "This medicine Farxiga should be taken off the market. I wound up in the hospital, my body, legs especially got huge, I do weigh about 239 lb, have large thighs, but this was way beyond that. I still have swollen legs and had to buy wide leg pants, can't wear anything less than wide leg pants. I had headaches, bad yeast infections, had to pee a lot, had constant tingling in my legs, which finally sent me to the ER. I have had constant joint pain in legs, hands, like I have never had before. Memory loss, which has gotten a little better but memory loss nonetheless. I am not the kind of person to sue, but this company took my legs from me. Wish I never took it. It also didn't do much to lower blood sugar. Finally am taking Lantus."

• For...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 30, 2023

Dapagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "After only 5 weeks of 5 mg of Farxiga, I had very swollen legs, tops of feet, and ankles. The tops of feet and legs are also covered in an itchy, sore rash. I phoned my doctor, who told me to continue taking this drug! Then I started having very painful urination and a strange feeling when peeing. I was beginning to feel dizzy and had constant headaches with tingling in my legs, stomach pains, and joint pains all over, so I stopped this terrible drug. I stopped Farxiga over 3 weeks ago and am still suffering the side effects, and the yeast and urine infection are still ongoing. Scared I will never feel right again."

• Edd...
• May 30, 2022

Dapagliflozin for Heart Failure "My doctor put me back on after they took my melano pump off. I had the worst side effects just after 5 days of use. Dizzy/lightheaded, laziness, weakness, terrible headache, go to bed at 9, wake up at 11:30+ the next day, fast heartbeat, deep sweat at night, and a few others. This medicine is not for me."

• Dav...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 23, 2018

Dapagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "I was started on Farxiga as my first Type II drug about 6 weeks ago. I started with a fasting reading of 360, and in those 6 weeks have regular readings below 180 after eating. I have had slight side effects - some headaches and dehydration (I think the headaches are actually linked to being dehydrated), and a lot of urinating, but so far nothing major. Bonus - I've even lost about 8 pounds in that time with very little change to my eating habits (I still eat sweets, but have cut back a little, but not nearly as much as I should) and adding very moderate exercise, like walking an extra 30 minutes a couple of times a week. I'm basically trying to keep to 60-75 g of carbs for each meal, and this has worked well for me. My doctor was worried about cost, but I got a 3-month supply for about $33 (CVS prescription plan through my work). So far I'm very happy with Farxiga, but this being my first diabetes drug, I have nothing to compare it to at this time."

• rsi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 31, 2016

Dapagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "Start the pills with no issue. Days 1 and 2 blood sugar is consistent with what I had been seeing. Day 3 blood sugar is improved, nothing above 127 all day! Toward the end of the day, I get a killer headache and can't move my fingers/wrist. Before I get home to the test strips, I know I've got diabetic ketoacidosis with a blood sugar of 127! I will not be giving Farxiga another attempt at killing me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 28, 2017

Dapagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "I started taking 10 mg of Farxiga, and after 2 weeks, I started getting bad headaches, muscle contractions in my head and chest, along with difficulty breathing. I have had an assortment of pains and discomforts in my chest. In my head, I could feel my brain oscillating. I had to get a toroidal shot to break the headache. I shared with the doctor, and they put me through an EKG and MRI scan, both were normal. I decided to stop taking the medication on my own. I still have headaches, and my ears are ringing all the time. I still have shortness of breath and discomfort in the middle of my chest. I had none of these symptoms prior to taking Farxiga. And the doctor does not attribute any of them to Farxiga and can't figure out the cause."

• Woo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 20, 2018

Dapagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "Started out fine. As it built up in my system over many months, I was getting a very dry mouth and then dry eyes. I thought my problems were over when I stopped taking the drug, but gut pain got really bad. I had stopped taking Farxiga 3 weeks before the abdominal pain got so bad and also included a really bad headache. Sure didn't help with thinking, I double paid the electric bill. Evidently, I'd become dehydrated. The low-salt diet hadn't helped the situation."

• Jaz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 17, 2018

Dapagliflozin for Type 2 Diabetes "I have been on Farxiga for a little less than a month and am experiencing headaches, extreme scalp itching, shortness of breath, back pain, and dehydration. I generally drink tons of water, and prior to Farxiga, did not have to urinate as much as I do. I also think that I am getting a yeast infection. I was on Janumet and Jardiance prior to this, but my insurance company stopped covering both, so now I am forced to take this or Invokana... I don't like this medication and would prefer to be on what I was taking before. If you have any say-so in the matter, DO NOT TAKE FARXIGA!!"

• Far...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 9, 2024

Dapagliflozin for Chronic Kidney Disease "Being not sure how to feel completely. I have started 5 mg of this medication a week ago. Make sure you are drinking while taking this medication. I don’t have diabetes but I have had CKD for years and was prescribed this before and didn't want my kidneys to become dependent on this. Well, a few years later (just recently), my creatinine went from 1.12 to 1.42. And my eGFR went from 61 to 47 so I agreed to try the 5 mg of Farxiga. So far, my complaints are peeing all the time, which I have baby wipes to wipe with first then I dry with toilet paper, and headaches each day. I called my doctor and he will be getting labs each week for 4 weeks and see how my levels are doing. Doesn't help I am a nurse and know what I want to have checked, but I will be going on Monday for a check lab draw and see if taking it for a mere week has done anything different as I have peed at least every hour. Make sure to drink a lot of fluid since you are going to be peeing it out."

• Mik...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 23, 2016

For Type 2 Diabetes "Been taking Forxiga 10mg for 7 weeks. First week, I was very tired but drank more water to 5 liters a day and also had a few very bad headaches taken care of by paracetamol. Then Forxiga gave perfect blood sugar 5.6 quite constant, taken with 2 x 40mg Gliclazide. I never felt so good in my life. To prevent thrush (male), I washed my penis after every pee with plain water in a mug. The first box of Forxiga was made in the UK by AstraZeneca in a white box with little display info on it. They were brilliant. Then I went to collect 2 boxes from the chemist and was given Forxiga dapagliflozinum 10mg, AstraZeneca, made in Malta! The effect was totally different. I started feeling sick, and after 3 weeks, I had a razor sore throat, so I stopped taking it."

• You...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 11, 2022

For Type 2 Diabetes "Took about 9 months but stopped today as I feel it was giving me really bad side effects. It did help drop my HbA1c from 115 down to 89 - UK chart (still high, I know). At first, my wrists started to hurt, that subsided, but now I have quite bad confusion, weird woozy head pressure, headaches, dry eyes, and muscle weakness in calves and left arm. It made me pee a lot, and I suspect I was also losing electrolytes. I feel a bit like a zombie, but I hope to feel better soon, now that I have stopped taking it. I’m going back to Metformin and have started a vegan diet. Currently not on any meds (2 days), and my sugars are really looking A LOT better following a vegan diet. I don’t think this drug should even be on the market, to be honest. I’m not sure if I can post updates on this site, but I will try in 1-3 months’ time to let everyone know if the side effects have fully worn off. I am male, 30 years old, and have had T2D for about 4 years."

• Jas...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 27, 2018

For Type 2 Diabetes "Have been on 10 mg Forxiga for 10 months, have had extreme thirst, constant urination, headaches, dizziness, and an inability to concentrate, and yeast infections constantly, but have lost 15 kg. I halved my dosage to 5 mg one month ago and feel heaps better in all aspects and am increasing exercise to keep weight off. I want to stop Forxiga altogether as my biggest fear is this weird inability to concentrate, as I require good mental clarity and long periods of concentration in my job. Has anyone else found it affects their ability to concentrate? I find it really scary and may have to stop it for this reason alone."