Invokana

Type 2 diabetes is a condition where the body does not produce enough insulin, and the insulin it does produce is not as effective, leading to excess sugar (glucose) in the blood. This accumulation can cause serious medical conditions such as heart disease, kidney disease, blindness, and amputation. Invokana is used to treat adults with type 2 diabetes by increasing the amount of sugar removed from the body through urine, thereby reducing blood sugar levels. It helps prevent heart disease and slows the deterioration of kidney function through mechanisms beyond blood glucose lowering. Invokana can be used alone or with other diabetes medications like metformin, insulin, DPP-4 inhibitors, sulphonylureas, or pioglitazone. It is also essential to follow dietary and exercise advice from healthcare providers while using this medication.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken, or might take any other medicines, as this can affect how the medicines work. This includes other antidiabetics such as insulin or sulphonylureas (like glimepiride or glipizide), which may require dose adjustments to prevent low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Inform your doctor if you are taking blood pressure medications, including diuretics, as Invokana can also lower blood pressure by removing excess water from the body. Additionally, be sure to mention if you are taking St. John’s wort (for depression), seizure medications like carbamazepine, phenytoin, or phenobarbital, lithium (for bipolar disorder), HIV treatments like efavirenz or ritonavir, tuberculosis antibiotics like rifampicin, cholesterol-lowering cholestyramine, heart medications like digoxin or digitoxin, or the blood thinner dabigatran. The interaction of these medications with Invokana may necessitate adjustments or monitoring to ensure safety and efficacy. For full details refer to the Patient Information Leaflet

Like all medicines, Invokana can cause side effects, although not everyone experiences them. Stop taking Invokana and seek immediate medical attention if you experience any serious side effects. Severe allergic reactions are rare, affecting up to 1 in 1,000 people, and may include symptoms such as swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat, leading to difficulty breathing or swallowing. Another rare but serious side effect is diabetic ketoacidosis, which can occur regardless of blood glucose level and may be more frequent as kidney function worsens. Signs of diabetic ketoacidosis include increased levels of ketone bodies in urine or blood, rapid weight loss, nausea or vomiting, stomach pain, excessive thirst, fast and deep breathing, confusion, unusual sleepiness or tiredness, and a sweet smell to your breath, a sweet or metallic taste in your mouth, or a different odor to your urine or sweat. If you experience these symptoms, your doctor may decide to temporarily or permanently stop your treatment with Invokana. For full details refer to the Patient Information Leaflet