SGLT2 Inhibitor

Aka: SGLT2 Inhibitor, Sodium-Glucose Co-Transporter-2 Inhibitor, Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2, Invokana, Canagliflozin, Farxiga, Dapagliflozin, Ipragliflozin, Empagliflozin, Jardiance, Flozins, Steglatro, Ertugliflozin

II. Indications

  1. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Management (second-line or third-line agent)
    1. Prefer other second-line agents with longer track record and lesser expense have been exhausted

III. Mechanism

  1. Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 (SGLT2) acts in the Kidneys to resorb Glucose
  2. SGLT2 Inhibitors allow more Glucose to remain in the urine without reabsorption

IV. Preparations

  1. Invokana (Canagliflozin, released 2013)
    1. Start: 100 mg orally daily
    2. Maximum: 300 mg orally daily (avoid if GFR <60 ml/min)
  2. Farxiga (Dapagliflozin)
  3. Ipragliflozin
  4. Empagliflozin (Jardiance)
  5. Ertugliflozin (Steglatro)

V. Efficacy

  1. Lowers Hemoglobin A1C 0.5 to 1%
  2. Decrease weight 5 lb

VI. Advantages

  1. May lower weight up to 4 to 7 pounds (via diuresis)
  2. May lower Blood Pressure by 3-5 mmHg (via similar mechanism to weight)
  3. Low risk of Hypoglycemia
  4. Empagliflozin (Jardiance)
    1. Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction
      1. Jardiance is associated with a decreased hospitalization and CV death rate when taken over 16 months (NNT 14)
      2. Packer (2020) N Engl J Med 383:1413-24 [PubMed]
    2. Modest reduction in overall mortality (NNT 39) and cardiovascular death (NNT 45) over 3 years
      1. Invokana may also lower cardiovascular event risk (NNT 333), but unlike Jardiance does not reduce mortality
      2. Zinman (2015) N Engl J Med 373(22):2117-28 +PMID:26378978 [PubMed]
    3. May slow Diabetic Nephropathy when combined with ACE Inhibitor or ARB
      1. May reduce hypoalbuminuria (NNT 20), but marginal effect on delaying Dialysis (NNT 333)
      2. Wanner (2016) N Engl J Med 375(4):323-34 [PubMed]
  5. Invokana (Canagliflozin)
    1. Delays Chronic Kidney Disease progression (likely a class effect)
      1. When taken for 2.5 years, delays Serum Creatinine doubling in those with GFR <60 ml/min (NNT 31)
      2. Balance with the risk of Acute Kidney Injury in those dehydrated while taking SGLT2 Inhibitors
      3. Perkovic (2019) N Engl J Med +PMID: 30990260 [PubMed]
  6. Dapagliflozin (Farxiga)
    1. Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
      1. Slows CKD progression or reduces risk of CV or renal death (NNT 19)
      2. Heerspink (2020) N Engl J Med 383:1436-46 [PubMed]

VII. Disadvantages

  1. See adverse effects below (UTI, yeast infections, Fractures)
  2. Expensive ($10 per day or more than $250 to 500 per month)
  3. Lower efficacy in moderate to severe renal Impairment

VIII. Contraindications

  1. Renal dysfunction
    1. GFR <60 ml/min: Avoid Farxiga (Dapagliflozin)
    2. GFR <45 ml/min: Avoid both Invokana (Canagliflozin) and Empagliflozin (Jardiance)

IX. Adverse Effects

  1. Perioperative Recommendations
    1. See Preoperative Guidelines for Medications Prior to Surgery
    2. Stop SGLT2 Inhibitors 3 days before surgery (due to Euglycemic Ketoacidosis risk)
    3. Restart SGLT2 Inhibitors post-operatively when oral intake returns to normal
  2. Urinary Tract Infection
  3. Genital yeast infection
    1. Number needed to harm (NNH) 17 in women, 40 in men
  4. Fournier's Gangrene
    1. https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm617360.htm
  5. Euglycemic Ketoacidosis
    1. See Euglycemic Ketoacidosis
  6. Diuretic effect
    1. Risk of dehydration, Orthostatic Hypotension
    2. Risk of Acute Kidney Injury (see below)
  7. Acute Kidney Injury
    1. Seen with Canagliflozin (Invokana) and Dapagliflozin (Farxiga), but likely a class effect due to diuresis
    2. Higher risk when combined with ACE Inhibitors (and ARBs), NSAIDs and Diuretics and esp. in elderly
    3. Avoid hypovolemia, and consider lowering Diuretic dose when on SGLT2 Inhibitor
    4. Check Serum Creatinine before initiating agent, 10-14 days later and again with dose increase
      1. Stop and hold the SGLT2 Inhibitor Serum Creatinine rises >30%
    5. http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm505860.htm
  8. Hyperkalemia
    1. When used in combination with ACE Inhibitors, Angiotensin Receptor Blockers or Potassium Sparing Diuretics
  9. LDL Cholesterol increase (4-8 mg/dl)
  10. Bladder Cancer increased risk
    1. Associated only with Farxiga
  11. Fractures
    1. Upper extremity Fractures most common (and not caused by major Trauma)
    2. Number needed to harm 125 for one additional Fracture with Invokana over 18 months of use
    3. Invokana and for those with Renal Insufficiency, Farxiga, have been associated with increased risk
    4. Unknown mechanism (possibly decreased Bone Mineral Density, increased fall risk)
    5. http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm461449.htm
  12. Acute Pancreatitis
  13. Amputation Risk
    1. Canagliflozin associated with increased risk of amputations
    2. Relative Risk: 2.0 (risk of 6 amputations per 1000 on Canagliflozin)
    3. May be a SGLT2 Inhibitor class effect (unclear mechanism)
    4. See Amputation Prevention in Diabetes Mellitus
    5. FDA Drug Safety Communication
      1. https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm557507.htm

X. Dosing

  1. AM dosing is recommended due to Diuretic effect
  2. Taken 30 minutes before first meal of day

XI. Resources

  1. Efficacy and safety of Canagliflozin
    1. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/dom.12054/pdf

XII. References

  1. (2020) Presc Lett 27(12): 68
  2. (2020) Presc Lett 27(5): 26
  3. (2018) Presc Lett 25(2)
  4. (2016) Presc Lett 23(2): 8-9
  5. (2014) Presc Lett 21(10): 57
  6. (2013) Presc Lett 20(5): 28
  7. Nisly (2013)Am J Health-Syst Pharm 70 (4):311-9 [PubMed]
  8. Stenlof (2013) Diabetes Obes Metab 15(4): 372-82 [PubMed]

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Related Studies

Cost: Medications

invokana (on 3/22/2017 at Medicaid.Gov Survey of pharmacy drug pricing)
INVOKANA 100 MG TABLET $13.70 each
INVOKANA 300 MG TABLET $13.70 each
farxiga (on 3/22/2017 at Medicaid.Gov Survey of pharmacy drug pricing)
FARXIGA 10 MG TABLET $13.78 each
FARXIGA 5 MG TABLET $13.79 each
jardiance (on 5/17/2017 at Medicaid.Gov Survey of pharmacy drug pricing)
JARDIANCE 10 MG TABLET $13.78 each
JARDIANCE 25 MG TABLET $13.83 each
FPNotebook does not benefit financially from showing this medication data or their pharmacy links. This information is provided only to help medical providers and their patients see relative costs. Insurance plans negotiate lower medication prices with suppliers. Prices shown here are out of pocket, non-negotiated rates. See Needy Meds for financial assistance information.

Ontology: Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 (C1565154)

Definition (MSH) A sodium-glucose transporter that is expressed in the luminal membrane of the PROXIMAL KIDNEY TUBULES.
Concepts Amino Acid, Peptide, or Protein (T116) , Biologically Active Substance (T123)
MSH D051297
Russian НАТРИЙ-ГЛЮКОЗНЫЙ ТРАНСПОРТЕР 2, NATRII-GLIUKOZNYI TRANSPORTER 2, NATRII-GLIUKOZY TRANSPORTER 2, НАТРИЙ-ГЛЮКОЗЫ ТРАНСПОРТЕР 2
Italian Trasportatore sodio-glucosio 2
English Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2, SODIUM GLUCOSE TRANSPORTER 002, Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 [Chemical/Ingredient], SGLT2 Protein, SLC5A2 Protein, Sodium Glucose Transporter 2
Czech transportér 2 pro sodík a glukosu
Finnish Natrium-glukoosin kuljettaja 2
Japanese ナトリウム-グルコーストランスポーター2, ナトリウム-グルコース輸送体2, グルコースナトリウム輸送体2, ナトリウム-グルコース共輸送体2, ナトリウム-ブドウ糖共輸送体2, グルコース-ナトリウム共輸送体2, ナトリウム依存性グルコース共輸送体2, グルコースナトリウムトランスポーター2
French Transporteur-2 sodium-glucose, Cotransporteur de glucose sodium-dépendant de type 2, SGLT2, Protéine SGLT2, Protéine SLC5A2, Transporteur SGLT2, Transporteur SLC5A2
Swedish Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2
Polish Transporter 2 sodowo-glukozowy
Portuguese Transportador de Sódio-Glucose, 2, Transportador 2 de Sódio-Glucose, Transportador de Glucose-Sódio, 2, Transportador 2 de Glucose-Sódio
German Natrium-Glucose-Transporter 2, SGLT2-Protein, SLC5A2-Protein
Spanish Transportador 2 de Sodio-Glucosa
Derived from the NIH UMLS (Unified Medical Language System)

Ontology: canagliflozin (C2974540)

Definition (NCI) A C-glucoside with a thiophene ring that is an orally available inhibitor of sodium-glucose transporter 2 (SGLT2) with antihyperglycemic activity. Canagliflozin is also able to reduce body weight and has a low risk for hypoglycemia.
Concepts Carbohydrate (T118) , Pharmacologic Substance (T121)
MSH C552334
SnomedCT 703676004, 703681008
English canagliflozin, 1-(glucopyranosyl)-4-methyl-3-(5-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-thienylmethyl)benzene, CANAGLIFLOZIN, canagliflozin (medication), antidiabetics canagliflozin, Canagliflozin (substance), Canagliflozin (product), Canagliflozin
Derived from the NIH UMLS (Unified Medical Language System)

Related Topics in Pharmacology

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