Farxiga (Dapagliflozin) for Heart Disease

What Members Say Top Tips Side Effects Copay Help FAQs

Farxiga (dapagliflozin) is a prescription medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help lower the risk of death from heart-related causes, hospital stays for heart failure, and urgent medical visits for heart failure in adults.

What Members Say

MHT logo These insights are based on 115 comments about Farxiga from MyHeartDiseaseTeam members. These are the experiences of a small number of people and are not meant to be medical advice.

Benefits:

Once-daily dosing can feel manageable alongside other heart failure medications.
Some describe improved ejection fraction (EF) after adding Farxiga to a broader treatment plan.
Several describe no noticeable side effects during long-term use.

Considerations:

Yeast infections are a frequent concern and are listed side effects.
Urination can increase, which is a labeled side effect.
Dizziness or low blood pressure can need monitoring, especially with diuretics.

How Farxiga Works and How It’s Taken

Farxiga is a type of medicine sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. It works by blocking a protein in the kidneys that normally helps the body take glucose (sugar) back into the blood. This allows more glucose to leave the body through urine.

Farxiga also changes how the kidneys handle sodium, a mineral found in salt. These changes may affect how the heart and kidneys work.

Doctors prescribe Farxiga to help:

Lower the risk of death from heart-related causes, hospital stays for heart failure, and urgent medical visits for heart failure in adults with heart failure
Lower the risk of hospital stays for heart failure in adults with type 2 diabetes who have heart disease or several risk factors for heart disease
Lower the risk of worsening kidney function, kidney failure, death from heart-related causes, and hospital stays for heart failure in adults with chronic kidney disease who are at risk of their condition getting worse

Farxiga comes as a tablet taken by mouth once daily, with or without food.

Typical Dosing for Heart-Related Conditions

The recommended dose of Farxiga for adults with heart failure, type 2 diabetes with heart disease or multiple heart disease risk factors, or chronic kidney disease at risk of getting worse is 10 milligrams by mouth once daily.

Dosing for people with kidney problems:

Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 25 or higher — The recommended dose is 10 milligrams once daily.
Estimated glomerular filtration rate below 25 — Starting Farxiga is not recommended. However, people already taking Farxiga may continue 10 milligrams once daily to help lower the risk of worsening kidney function, kidney failure, death from heart-related causes, and hospital stays for heart failure.

Estimated glomerular filtration rate is a measure of how well the kidneys filter blood. It is measured in milliliters per minute per 1.73 square meters of body surface area.

This information is based on the prescribing information, but your healthcare provider may tailor your treatment plan. Always follow their guidance.

Top Advice From Members on Farxiga

MHT logo These insights are based on 115 comments about Farxiga from MyHeartDiseaseTeam members. These are the experiences of a small number of people and are not meant to be medical advice.

Members who use Farxiga often say it helps to stay in close touch with your cardiology team, especially when side effects, cost, or other heart failure treatments are part of the picture. Many members also describe watching for infections, tracking changes in symptoms and ejection fraction, and being patient as results can vary from person to person.

1

Watch for yeast infections and tell your doctor about symptoms.
“I’ve been taking Farxiga for two and a half years since my heart attacks. I was born with kidney problems, and my kidney function was not very good. I’ve noticed improvements in my kidney function while taking Farxiga, which is great. However, I’ve also had yeast infections as a side effect.”
2

Keep track of dizziness, chest pain, or other new symptoms.
“My blood pressure isn’t as low as 95/48. My blood pressure has been around 103/68. I sometimes feel dizzy when I move from lying down to sitting up. I have been taking it slower and learned to change positions slowly so I don’t pass out.”
3

Be patient and follow how your heart function changes over time.
“My EF was 10 percent to 15 percent when I was first diagnosed. I was given Farxiga and Entresto, and it went up to 30 percent.”

Connect with others who understand life with heart disease. Join MyHeartDiseaseTeam for free.

Farxiga Side Effects

Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Common cold symptoms, such as a sore throat or runny nose (nasopharyngitis)
Increased urination (such as needing to urinate more often, in larger amounts, or at night)
Genital yeast infections (such as vaginal yeast infections or yeast infections of the penis)

Serious Side Effects and Warnings

Farxiga can cause serious side effects that may require immediate medical attention. These include:

Ketoacidosis — Ketones build up to dangerous levels in the blood or urine and can be life-threatening.
Volume depletion and low blood pressure — Dehydration can cause dizziness, fainting, or weakness and may lead to kidney problems.
Acute kidney injury — Kidney function can worsen suddenly.
Serious UTIs — These include urosepsis and pyelonephritis and may require hospitalization.
Serious genital infections — These include necrotizing fasciitis of the perineum, also called Fournier’s gangrene, a rare but life-threatening infection.
Severe allergic reactions — These include anaphylaxis and angioedema, which can cause swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, and trouble breathing.
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) — When used with insulin or certain diabetes medicines, blood sugar can drop too low.

Get medical help right away if you think you are having a serious reaction.

How To Save on Farxiga

AstraZeneca, the manufacturer of Farxiga, offers the Farxiga Savings Card. Eligible people with commercial insurance may pay as little as $0 per 30-day supply.

The Farxiga Savings Card also offers support from a Farxiga Savings Specialist who can answer savings and affordability questions.

To learn more, visit the Farxiga Savings Card website or call 800-236-9933.

What To Know Before Taking Farxiga

Before starting Farxiga, your doctor will check how well your kidneys work and whether your body has enough fluid.

Before taking Farxiga, tell your doctor if you:

Have type 1 diabetes or have had diabetic ketoacidosis, a serious condition caused by a buildup of acids called ketones in the blood
Have recently reduced your insulin dose
Have a serious infection
Have had vaginal or penile infections
Have liver problems
Have had UTIs or problems with urination
Follow a low-salt diet (Your doctor may ask you to change your diet.)
Are planning to have surgery (Your doctor may tell you to stop Farxiga before surgery and explain when to restart it.)
Are eating less than usual or have changed your diet
Are dehydrated, meaning your body has lost too much fluid
Have or have had pancreas problems, including pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), or surgery on your pancreas
Drink alcohol often or sometimes drink large amounts in a short period
Are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to breastfeed

Do not take Farxiga if you have had a serious allergic reaction to dapagliflozin or any of the ingredients in Farxiga.

Tell your doctor about all medicines you take, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Farxiga may affect how other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how Farxiga works.

Farxiga is also FDA-approved to help improve blood sugar control in adults and children aged 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes, along with diet and exercise.

If you miss a dose of Farxiga, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses at the same time.

Farxiga may harm a developing baby and is not recommended during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant or plan to become pregnant while taking Farxiga.

It is not known whether Farxiga passes into human breast milk. You should not breastfeed while taking Farxiga because of the potential risk to your baby.

Community FAQs

These answers are fact-checked by our editorial staff.

How effective is Farxiga for heart-related conditions?

Two large clinical studies looked at how well Farxiga worked in adults with heart failure. One study included people whose hearts had trouble pumping enough blood. The other included people whose hearts could still pump a greater amount of blood but who had heart failure.

Both studies found that Farxiga helped lower the risk of death from heart-related causes, hospital stays for heart failure, or urgent medical visits for heart failure.

First study (DAPA-HF) — Over a follow-up period of about 18 months, 16.3 percent of people taking Farxiga had one of these events, compared with 21.2 percent taking a placebo (a pill without active medicine).
Second study (DELIVER) — Over a follow-up period of about 28 months, 16.4 percent of people taking Farxiga had one of these events, compared with 19.5 percent taking a placebo.

These results show that Farxiga can help lower the risk of serious heart failure-related events.

How long does Farxiga take to work for heart-related conditions?

In both clinical studies, people taking Farxiga had fewer serious heart failure-related events than those taking a placebo. The differences between the groups appeared early and continued throughout the studies.

However, the study does not say exactly how many days or weeks it takes for someone to notice an improvement in heart failure symptoms. Lowering the risk of serious heart failure-related events does not necessarily mean someone will feel better right away.

Does Farxiga interact with other medicines?

Yes. Farxiga can interact with certain medicines, including:

Insulin and certain diabetes medicines — Taking Farxiga with insulin or medicines that help the body release more insulin, such as sulfonylureas, may increase the risk of low blood sugar. Your doctor may need to lower the dose of these medicines.
Lithium — Farxiga may lower the amount of lithium in your blood. Lithium is used to treat certain mental health conditions. Your doctor may need to check your lithium levels more often when you start Farxiga or change your dose.

Tell your doctor about all medicines you take, including prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Should I take Farxiga for heart disease if I have an infection?

Yes. Tell your doctor if you have a serious infection before starting Farxiga. Your doctor will decide whether it is safe for you to take it.

Farxiga can increase the risk of genital and urinary tract infections. Some infections can become serious and may require treatment in a hospital.

Tell your doctor if you have symptoms of a UTI, such as:

Burning or pain when urinating
Needing to urinate more often or urgently
Pain in the lower belly or pelvic area
Blood in your urine
Fever, back pain, nausea, or vomiting

Farxiga can also cause yeast infections around the vagina or penis. Symptoms may include itching, redness or skin discoloration, swelling, unusual discharge, or discomfort.

Get medical help immediately if you develop pain, tenderness, redness or skin discoloration, or swelling around your genitals or the area between your genitals and anus, along with a fever or feeling very weak, tired, or unwell. These may be signs of a rare but life-threatening infection.

Before starting Farxiga, tell your doctor if you have had UTIs problems with urination, or vaginal or penile infections.

If you develop an infection while taking Farxiga, contact your healthcare provider for advice. Do not decide on your own whether to stop or continue treatment.