Canagliflozin is a prescription drug used to treat type 2 diabetes. This medication decreases your body’s blood glucose level to get your type 2 diabetes under control. Not only does canagliflozin help manage blood sugar levels, but it can also help patients with type 2 diabetes reduce their risk of heart attack, stroke, and death.

Canagliflozin is prescribed in conjunction with other treatment measures such as exercise and dietary changes to help patients lose weight and prevent serious complications caused by diabetes.

Canagliflozin is prescribed as a treatment for type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic condition in which the body does not properly process food into energy. When we eat food (particularly carbs) the body turns it into glucose (sugar), the substance our body uses as energy. Central to this process is insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas to help cells absorb glucose. In people with diabetes, the body either does not produce enough insulin or uses it inefficiently. This causes the blood sugar, or blood glucose levels, to either get too high (hyperglycemia) or too low (hypoglycemia).

Canagliflozin is not used to treat type 1 diabetes – an autoimmune condition in which your body attacks your pancreas with antibodies causing the organ to stop producing insulin. If you have been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, your health care provider will prescribe a different form of medication and therapy for you.

Canagliflozin belongs to a classification of medication known as sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. These drugs work by blocking the absorption of blood sugar (glucose) into the kidneys. By doing so, canagliflozin encourages the kidneys to release excess blood sugar through urine flow. This can help patients managing type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar levels.

Note that canagliflozin will not cure type 2 diabetes. It is often prescribed in conjunction with dietary changes and lifestyle adjustments (such as physical exercise) to prevent severe complications caused by diabetes.

Canagliflozin has been shown to cause some side effects. Talk to your health care provider if these adverse reactions do not go away within a few days.

Common side effects reported while taking canagliflozin include:

• Frequent need to urinate
  
• Increased thirst
  
• Constipation
  
• Dry mouth
  

This is not a complete list of adverse effects – though these are among the most common. Seek medical attention right away if you experience symptoms such as swelling, chest pain, fainting, rash, hives, or difficulty breathing while taking canagliflozin.

As with all prescription medication, be sure to inform the prescribing doctor about any medical conditions you have been previously diagnosed with, as well as any medication/ supplements you are currently taking before starting treatment with canagliflozin. Canagliflozin can interact with other forms of medication and substances, causing potentially serious side effects. In addition, let your doctor know if you are pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant before starting treatment with this medication.

Canagliflozin is commonly administered as an oral tablet. For adults, the preliminary dosage of canagliflozin starts at 100 mg to be taken once a day in the morning. You can take canagliflozin with or without food.

Do not discontinue or increase your dosage of canagliflozin without consulting your doctor first. Take the medication exactly as prescribed, and inform your doctor if you begin to experience any side effects while taking the medication.

Canagliflozin is currently only available via prescription. This means the use of this drug must be authorized by a licensed health care provider.

Providers on Sesame can write a prescription – or refill an existing one – during a virtual or in-person visit. Depending on the medication, you can arrange for same-day pickup at a pharmacy near you. Book an online consultation with a real, licensed provider on Sesame today to determine whether or not canagliflozin is right for you.

Note that all prescriptions are at the discretion of your health care provider. Providers on Sesame cannot prescribe controlled substances.

Good news! If deemed clinically appropriate, providers on Sesame can write a prescription for canagliflozin to be picked up near you – often within the same day! Simply talk to a clinician and get your online doctor prescription or refill ordered right away for fast and convenient pickup from a pharmacy of your choice.

Note that all prescriptions are at the discretion of your healthcare provider.