Forziga (Dapagliflozin 10mg) Tablets

Forziga general information

What is Forziga used for?

Forziga tablets 10mg are an oral diabetes medication used to treat Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), also known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes to improve control of blood sugar levels (glycaemic control) when diet and exercise alone does not provide adequate glycaemic control.  Forziga tablets 10mg are used in combination with improved diet and increased exercise and can be used as monotherapy when metformin, which is the first-line medication for diabetes treatment, cannot be tolerated, or as add-on therapy with other oral antihyperglycaemic medications when diet and exercise, plus one of these other drugs does not provide adequate glycaemic control.  Diabetes increases the risk of serious health complications, including cardiovascular disease leading to heart attack and stroke.  Also, microvascular damage (damage to capillaries) including diabetic retinopathy (damage to the retina in the eye with loss of vision), diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage) and diabetic nephropathy (kidney damage).  In extreme cases microvascular damage can result in amputation.  Maintaining glycaemic control with Forziga tablets 10mg reduces the risk of developing these vascular complications.

How does Forziga work?

Forziga tablets 10mg contain dapagliflozin, an oral antihyperglycaemic belonging to the gliflozin group of drugs that is used to treat type-2 diabetes to lower blood sugar levels.  Dapagliflozin in Forziga tablets 10mg works by inhibiting glucose reabsorption by the kidney.  Under normal conditions the kidneys filter glucose out of the blood into the proximal renal tubules where it is reabsorbed back into the blood to be used as an energy source by the body.  Renal glucose reabsorption is carried out by the transporter protein sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2), which is responsible for the majority of filtered glucose reabsorption in proximal tubule of the kidneys.  Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 SGLT1, located further down the proximal tubule reabsorbs the remaining glucose.  Under normal conditions there should be no filtered glucose remaining in the urine.  However, when there is too much glucose in the blood, as is the case in T2DM, it cannot all be reabsorbed and the excess is excreted in the urine.  Also the capacity to reabsorb glucose is increased in T2DM, which contributes to hyperglycaemia.  Dapagliflozin in Forziga tablets 10mg is a selective reversible inhibitor of SGLT2, which prevents glucose reabsorption and allows excess glucose to be excreted in the urine, lowering abnormally high blood sugar levels that occur after each meal (postprandial) and maintaining fasting blood sugar levels between meals.  This results in reduced blood glucose levels and increased urinary glucose excretion; other health benefits include a reduction in blood pressure, due to increased diuretic effect (water loss) and reduced body weight due to a reduction in glucose availability.  Forziga tablets 10mg reduce blood glucose levels and help maintain glycaemic control.  

What does Forziga contain?

Forziga tablets 10mg contain the active ingredient dapagliflozin, an oral antihyperglycaemic used to treat type-2 diabetes to lower blood sugar levels.

Treating diabetes with Forziga

Forziga tablets 10mg contain dapagliflozin, an oral antihyperglycaemic belonging that is used to treat type-2 diabetes also known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes.  Diabetes is a disease characterised by high blood sugar levels (hyperglycaemia) that are difficult to control (poor glycaemic control), caused by chronic damage to the beta cells of the pancreas and loss of their normal function, which is the production of insulin in response to increase in blood glucose, particularly following a meal; or to Insulin resistance.  Forziga tablets 10mg are used to improve control of blood sugar levels (glycaemic control) when diet and exercise alone does not provide adequate glycaemic control, and can be used as monotherapy when metformin, which is the first-line medication for diabetes treatment, cannot be tolerated, or as add-on therapy with other oral antihyperglycaemic medications when diet and exercise, plus one of these other drugs does not provide adequate glycaemic control.  Dapagliflozin in Forziga tablets 10mg works by inhibiting glucose reabsorption by the kidney and this allows excess glucose to be excreted in the urine, lowering abnormally high blood sugar levels that occur after each meal (postprandial) and maintaining fasting blood sugar levels between meals.  This results in reduced blood glucose levels and increased urinary glucose excretion.  Forziga tablets 10mg reduce blood glucose levels and help maintain glycaemic control, which reduces risk of vascular complications including cardiovascular disease leading to heart attack and stroke.  Also, microvascular damage (damage to capillaries) including diabetic retinopathy (damage to the retina in the eye with loss of vision), diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage) and diabetic nephropathy (kidney damage).  In extreme cases microvascular damage can result in amputation. 

What are the side effects of Forziga?

The most commonly reported side effects when taking Forziga tablets 10mg include hypoglycaemia in combination with insulin or sulphonylurea, dizziness, back pain, yeast infection of the vagina (vulvovaginal candidiasis) or penis (Balanitis, balanoposthitis), urinary tract infection, increased urination frequency and urinary amount, dehydration, thirst, constipation, nausea.  

When should Forziga not be used?

You should not use Forziga tablets 10mg if you:

• are allergic to dapagliflozin or any ingredients in Forziga
• are pregnant or are breastfeeding
• have severe kidney or liver disease
• have type 1 (insulin dependent) diabetes
• have diabetic ketoacidosis
• are taking medicines that interact with Forziga including the antiinfective rifampin for treatment of tuberculosis, digoxin for heart failure, the anticonvulsants phenytoin, carbamazepine or phenobarbital, ritonavir for HIV infection, diuretics for heart disease and hypertension, other antidiabetics like insulin or a sulphonylurea, cholestyramine for high cholesterol

What medications interact with Forziga?

Several medications interact with Forziga tablets 10mg and should either not be taken while you are taking Forziga or only after discussion and instruction from your doctor:

• Drugs that cause a serious reaction with Forziga: other antidiabetics like insulin or a sulphonylurea can cause hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar), diuretics can increase risk of dehydration and hypotension (low blood pressure)
• Drugs that affect Forziga: rifampin for treatment of tuberculosis, the anticonvulsants phenytoin, carbamazepine or phenobarbital, ritonavir for HIV infection, cholestyramine for high cholesterol
• Drugs that are affected by Forziga: digoxin for heart failure

How should Forziga be taken?

You should take your Forziga tablets 10mg swallowed whole with a glass of water, once daily with or without food at the same time each day.  The dose you take depends on your doctor’s recommendation and you should continue with your prescribed diet and exercise programme.  You should continue to take your Forziga tablets 10mg for as long as recommended by your doctor. 

How long should you take Forziga?

You should continue to take your Forziga tablets 10mg for as long as recommended by your doctor. 

Missed dose of Forziga

If you miss a dose of Forziga tablets 10mg take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose.  Do not take a double dose.

How should Forziga be stored?

You should store your Forziga tablets 10mg below 25°C in a cool dry place.