How long does it take for Farxiga to work?
Farxiga (dapagliflozin) is a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor that is used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, heart failure and chronic kidney disease (CKD). It starts working after just one dose, but it may take a week for Farxiga to take full effect.
In patients with type 2 diabetes, Farxiga works by stopping glucose being reabsorbed back into the body via the kidneys, which leads to more glucose being excreted when a person urinates.
After a Farxiga tablet is swallowed, it is rapidly absorbed by the body and maximum blood plasma concentrations of the drug are reached within 2 hours. Clinical trial results show that the amount of glucose removed via urine increases after just one dose. However, it takes multiple doses of once-daily Farxiga to decrease a patient's blood glucose or sugar levels, meaning that it may take a week for Farxiga to take full effect.
In patients with heart failure, Farxiga works by increasing the amount of sodium in an area of the kidneys called the distal tubule. This is linked to its mechanism of action - the way it works - in patients with diabetes. When the drug inhibits SGLT2 it stops the sodium-powered process that allows the body to reabsorb glucose. While the glucose is left to be excreted in the urine, the salt goes to work in the distal tubule to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization in patients with symptomatic heart failure by making it easier for the heart to work.
It is not clear exactly how Farxiga works in patients with CKD, but its effects are thought to be related to its ability to reduce intraglomerular pressure. Intraglomerular pressure is the pressure within a glomerulus - a network of small blood vessels found in the beginning of the nephron in the kidneys. The glomerulus filters the blood, enabling small molecules, waste and fluid to pass into the tubule. The tubule then returns the substances you need back to your blood and removes the waste and excess fluid as urine.
The DAPA-CKD trial investigated the benefits of Farxiga in patients with CKD. The trial compared Farxiga with placebo. Both the placebo group and the Farxiga group started with the same number of at risk patients at the beginning of the trial. By 4 months the number of patients at risk had started to reduce in both groups. This trend continued and resulted in the trial being stopped after a median of 2.4 years' follow up, by which point Farxiga was shown to improve kidney outcomes and reduce cardiovascular death.
Related questions
References
- Kasichayanula S, Liu X, Lacreta F, et at. Clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of dapagliflozin, a selective inhibitor of sodium-glucose co-transporter type 2. Clin Pharmacokinet. 2014 Jan;53(1):17-27. doi: 10.1007/s40262-013-0104-3.
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Farxiga. Highlights of Prescribing Information. [Accessed May 5, 2021]. Available online at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2021/202293s024lbl.pdf.
- Komoroski B, Vachharajani N, Feng Y, et al. Dapagliflozin, a novel, selective SGLT2 inhibitor, improved glycemic control over 2 weeks in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2009 May;85(5):513-9. doi: 10.1038/clpt.2008.250. Epub 2009 Jan 7.
- NHS. Dapagliflozin. [Accessed January 28, 2021]. Available online at: https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/dapagliflozin/.
- Heerspink HJL, Stefánsson BV, Correa-Rotter R, et al. Dapagliflozin in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease. N Engl J Med. 2020;383(15):1436-1446. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2024816.
- AstraZeneca. Farxiga approved in the US for the treatment of chronic kidney disease in patients at risk of progression with and without type-2 diabetes. April 30, 2021.[Accessed May 4, 2021]. Available from: https://www.astrazeneca.com/media-centre/press-releases/2021/farxiga-approved-in-the-us-for-ckd.html#!.
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA). FDA Approves Treatment for Chronic Kidney Disease. April 30, 2021. [Accessed May 4, 2021]. Available from: https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-treatment-chronic-kidney-disease.
Read next
Can Farxiga cause constipation?
Taking the drug Farxiga may lead to constipation in some people. The good news is that it doesn't seem to happen often. In studies, only around 2% of people taking Farxiga developed constipation, compared to 1.5% of people taking a placebo. Continue reading
What is the safest diabetes medication?
Most experts consider metformin to be the safest medicine for type 2 diabetes because it has been used for many decades, is effective, affordable, and safe. Metformin is recommended as a first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes by the American Diabetes Association (ADA). Continue reading
What foods should I eat or avoid for hypoglycemia?
If you have diabetes, then you will know that certain foods can significantly affect your blood sugar levels. There is no one-size-fits-all meal plan for people with diabetes, but it can be confusing knowing what you can and can’t eat. Some examples of nutritionally high dinners suitable for people at risk of hypoglycemia include: soup, such as lentil and quinoa; grilled fish with broccoli, peas, and sweet potato; broccoli salad with artichokes, black beans, and sun-dried tomatoes; chicken vege stir fry with zucchini, carrots, and broccoli; and vegetarian lentil tacos. Continue reading
Related medical questions
- Why does Farxiga cause yeast infections?
- What are the ingredient drugs contained in Qternmet XR?
- Can you have hypoglycemia without diabetes?
- What is the connection between the endocrine system and osteoporosis?
- Which type of insulin has the longest duration of action?
- Mounjaro vs Ozempic: Which is right for you?
- Ozempic Side Effects to Watch For
- Zepbound Vs Mounjaro: Complete Comparison Guide for Weight Loss and Diabetes Treatment
- Why am I not losing weight on Mounjaro?
- How long does metformin take to work?
- Mounjaro side effects you need to be aware of
- How long does it take for Ozempic to work?
- What are the long-term side effects of Ozempic?
- Wegovy vs Ozempic: Which is Right for You?
- How many doses are in an Ozempic pen?
- When is the best time to take metformin?
- Tirzepatide vs semaglutide: How do they compare?
- Do Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro & Zepbound cause hair loss?
- What happens when you stop taking Ozempic?
- Saxenda vs Ozempic: For Weight Loss?
- Does Ozempic need to be refrigerated?
- Why does metformin cause diarrhea?
- Will my insurance cover the cost of Ozempic?
- Can you switch between Ozempic and Mounjaro?
- How does Mounjaro Work for Weight Loss?
- Is Mounjaro covered by insurance or Medicare?
- Can you buy Ozempic over the counter?
- Can you get tirzepatide from a compounding pharmacy?
- Why am I not losing weight on Ozempic?
- Can you take metformin without food?
Drug information
- Farxiga Information for Consumers
- Farxiga prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side Effects of Farxiga (detailed)
- Farxiga user reviews (162)
Related support groups
- Farxiga (18 questions, 34 members)
- Diabetes, Type 2 (498 questions, 1,425 members)
- Heart Failure (76 questions, 166 members)
- Chronic Kidney Disease (40 questions, 105 members)