Canagliflozin
About Canagliflozin
Canagliflozin belongs to the category of medicines called 'anti-diabetic' primarily used for managing and treating type 2 diabetes, especially in persons whose sugar levels are too high and cannot be controlled only by dieting and exercising. Type 2 diabetes is a condition that occurs when there is either less insulin or available insulin is not properly utilized by our body cells for lowering raised blood glucose. It is the most common type of diabetes, accounting for around 90% of diabetes cases found commonly in middle-aged people. So it is also called adult-onset diabetes or non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM).
Canagliflozin contains “Canagliflozin” is a sodium-glucose cotransporters-2 (SGLT-2) (a protein present in the kidney) inhibitor that works by inhibiting the reabsorption of glucose in the body, resulting in an increase in glucose excretion through urine. The removal of excessive glucose helps to lower the blood sugar level. Additionally, it also lowers high blood pressure, due to increased diuretic effect (water loss) and reduced body weight due to a reduction in glucose availability.
Take Canagliflozin as prescribed. Your doctor will advise you how often you take Canagliflozin based on your medical condition. In some cases, you may experience urinary tract infections, changes in urination (including urinating more frequently or in larger amounts, urgent need to urinate, need to urinate at night), constipation, feeling thirsty, nausea, dizziness, and nausea. Most of these side effects of Canagliflozin do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects are persistent, reach out to your doctor.
Before starting Canagliflozin, let your doctor know if you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant, or breastfeeding. And also, tell the doctor if you have/had any medical history of heart, liver, or kidney diseases. Inform your doctor about all the medicine you are taking and your health condition to rule out any unpleasant side effects. Canagliflozin works best when coupled with a healthy lifestyle like losing weight if you are overweight (BMI>25), eating fewer calories (low fat and sugary food), and being more physically active (at least 150min of activity every week).
Uses of Canagliflozin
Medicinal Benefits
Canagliflozin belongs to the group of medicines called “anti-diabetic” indicated in the treatment of type 2 diabetes or non-insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM). This medicine is primarily prescribed to persons with high blood sugar levels and is not controlled by diet and exercise alone. Canagliflozin consists of “Canagliflozin” is a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor responsible for the inhibition of SGLT-2 enzymes in the kidney. It prevents the reabsorption of glucose from the blood filtered through your kidney, thereby increasing the glucose excretion from your body when you pee. In some cases, Canagliflozin can cause weight loss in diabetic persons by increasing the excretion of excess sugar through urination when you pee.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Canagliflozin
- Urinary tract infections
- Changes in urination (including urinating more frequently or in larger amounts, urgent need to urinate, need to urinate at night)
- Constipation
- Feeling thirsty
- Nausea
- Blood tests may show changes in blood fat (cholesterol) levels
- Increases in the number of red blood cells in your blood
Drug Warnings
Canagliflozin should not be used in patients with type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis. Before you start taking Canagliflozin, tell your doctor if you have serious heart disease or if you have had a stroke, low blood pressure (hypotension), and severe liver or kidney disease. Canagliflozin, when used with insulin, $ name may lower the blood sugar level, leading to hypoglycemia, which can be fatal. Your doctor may adjust the dose by lowering the dose of insulin or Canagliflozin in this case. If you experience rapid weight loss, feeling sick or being sick, stomach pain, excessive thirst, fast and deep breathing, confusion, unusual sleepiness or tiredness, a sweet smell to your breath, a sweet or metallic taste in your mouth, or a different odour to your urine or sweat, talk to a doctor or go to the nearest hospital immediately.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Canagliflozin interacts with other antidiabetic drugs (glimepiride, glipizide), diuretics (furosemide), medicines used to control seizures (carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital ), a medicine used to treat HIV infection (efavirenz, ritonavir), antibiotic used to treat tuberculosis (rifampicin), a medicine used to reduce cholesterol levels in the blood (cholestyramine), blood thinner (dabigatran) medicines used for certain heart problems (digoxin).
Drug-Food Interactions: Canagliflozin may interact with household sugar and cause abdominal discomfort and stomach upset. Therefore one should avoid consuming foods rich in sugar. Additionally, Canagliflozin interacts with St. John’s wort (a herbal medicine to treat depression).
Drug-Disease Interactions: People affected with heart diseases (like congestive heart failure and myocardial infarction), have sugar (glucose) and ketones (a type of chemical) in pee, severe kidney or liver disease, often get urinary tract infections, and alcoholism should avoid intake of Canagliflozin.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeYou should avoid consuming alcohol with Canagliflozin as it may alter your blood sugar levels or lead to serious side effects.
Pregnancy
cautionNo sufficient data are available on the use of Canagliflozin in pregnancy. Canagliflozin is a Category C pregnancy drug that is not recommended for use in pregnancy. Hence, consult your doctor before taking this medicine.
Breast Feeding
cautionThere is no sufficient data on how Canagliflozin affects breastfeeding. It is safe to seek medical advice before you start Canagliflozin if you are breastfeeding.
Driving
cautionCanagliflozin is safe to take before driving as it does not affect your thinking ability. Do not drive or operate machinery if you experience dizziness or drowsiness.
Liver
cautionIf you have liver disease or a history of liver impairment, consult your doctor before taking Canagliflozin. Your doctor may adjust the dose or prescribe a suitable alternative based on your condition.
Kidney
cautionIf you have kidney disease or a history of kidney impairment, consult your doctor before taking Canagliflozin. Your doctor may adjust the dose or prescribe a suitable alternative based on your condition.
Children
cautionCanagliflozin is not recommended for children below 18 years of age, as the safety and effectiveness were not established.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- A person should engage themself in regular exercise like cycling, running, walking, jogging, dancing, or swimming for at least 30 minutes. Try to invest at least 150 minutes weekly in exercise.
- A person should also maintain a healthy body weight to avoid obesity or high blood sugar; it can increase the risk of the onset of diabetes.
- A person should take low fat and a low sugar diet. For that, replace carbohydrates with whole grains, fruits, and vegetables as carbohydrates changed into sugars leading to high blood sugar levels.
- Try to avoid potatoes as they are high glycaemic foods that increase the risk of high sugar in the blood.
- A person should limit the consumption of alcohol and quit smoking.
- Keep your blood pressure as normal (120/80) as possible, as it reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases in diabetes patients.
- Do not take stress as it may elevate your blood sugar level. You can adopt stress management techniques like mindfulness to control stress-related blood sugar changes.
Special Advise
You should have a test of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1C) every 3 months to check your blood glucose level control.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Type 2 diabetes: It is a chronic or lifelong condition in which the body's cells fail to respond to insulin and, in later stages, the body fails to produce enough insulin. It accounts for roughly 90% of all diabetes cases. Because of this condition, the body must rely on various energy sources in muscles, tissues, and organs. Early symptoms of this disease include constant hunger, lack of energy, fatigue, weight loss, excessive thirst, frequent urination, dry mouth, itchy skin, and blurry vision. Type 2 diabetes, also known as adult-onset diabetes, is most common in people in their forties and fifties. The risks of uncontrolled type 2 diabetes include retinal damage or blindness, limb loss, nerve problems, kidney problems, sexual dysfunction, and an increased risk of heart attack or stroke.
FAQs
Canagliflozin is a type of medicine known as a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor used for the treatment of type -2 diabetes. It lowers blood sugar levels by blocking the action of SGLT-2 in the kidney and removing excess sugar from your body through urination.
Take the missed dose as soon as possible. However, if it is time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.
Type 2 diabetes is a common form of diabetes in which the blood sugar-lowering hormone called insulin produced by the body does not function properly. Thus, the blood glucose level increases, and symptoms such as frequent urination, increased thirst, and increased hunger start. Diabetes, if left untreated or not treated properly, can cause long-term complications such as nerve damage, kidney damage, eye damage, and foot problems, and poses a high risk of developing heart disease.
Canagliflozin is safe to take before driving as it does not affect your thinking ability. Do not drive or operate machinery if you experience dizziness or drowsiness.
Do not stop taking Canagliflozin until your prescribed course is finished, even if you feel better.
Canagliflozin is only prescribed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, also called 'non-insulin-dependent diabetes.
Once blood sugar goes below the normal range (70mg/dl), it is called hypoglycemia or low blood sugar in people with diabetes. If you feel your sugar level is going down and feel weak, immediately eat sugar candies. It will help to balance the blood sugar level in your body. So, it is advisable to keep sugar candies with you if you have diabetes.
