Dapagliflozin
- Class: SGLT2 inhibitor
- Used for: type 2 diabetes
- Say it: dap-uh-glih-FLOH-zin
- Forms: tablet
It began as a diabetes drug but is licensed for heart failure and chronic kidney disease regardless of diabetes. The benefit comes from haemodynamic and metabolic effects, not from lowering glucose.
The stem marks an SGLT2 inhibitor, blocking glucose reabsorption in the proximal tubule. The surprise of this class is that the heart and kidney benefits turned out larger than the glucose-lowering — which is why they are now given to people with no diabetes at all. All drug suffixes ›
Side effects
Common: genital yeast infection, urinary tract infection, frequent urination
Serious: ketoacidosis, Fournier's gangrene (rare)
Typical dose
10 mg once daily
The same single dose whether it is given for diabetes, heart failure or kidney disease.
Check yourself
Why is dapagliflozin prescribed to heart failure patients who do not have diabetes?
- Its cardiovascular benefit is independent of its glucose-lowering effect
- It prevents them from developing diabetes
- It is used purely as a diuretic
- It raises the blood glucose to support the heart
Show answer
A. Its cardiovascular benefit is independent of its glucose-lowering effect
The trials deliberately included non-diabetic patients and found the same reduction in death and hospitalisation. That is why the licence follows the condition rather than the glucose — an unusual path for a drug developed as an antidiabetic.
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