Farxiga alternatives: What can I take instead of Farxiga?

In this article:

• What can I take in place of Farxiga?
• Compare Farxiga alternatives
• Top 5 Farxiga alternatives
• Natural alternatives to Farxiga
• How to switch to a Farxiga alternative

In this article

• What can I take in place of Farxiga?
• Compare Farxiga alternatives
• Top 5 Farxiga alternatives
• Natural alternatives to Farxiga
• How to switch to a Farxiga alternative

Farxiga is a brand-name medication that contains the active ingredient dapagliflozin, one of the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. It’s manufactured by AstraZeneca— although a generic has recently become available. Farxiga is used for blood glucose (sugar) control in people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. It works by increasing urinary glucose, so more sugar is eliminated from the body through the urine. Much attention has been paid to the SGLT2 inhibitors in recent years as cardiac and renal (kidney) benefits have come to light. Based on its advantages for heart failure treatment and the setting of renal impairment, Farxiga and other members of the class are increasingly being chosen for Type 2 diabetes treatment. Their once-a-day oral dosing is also attractive for some in comparison to injectable drugs. For those who cannot take Farxiga, there are many alternatives available. 

RELATED: What is Farxiga used for?

What can I take in place of Farxiga?

If you are interested in switching to a different medicine, there are other options available, depending on the reason for use. It’s important to always discuss medication changes with a healthcare professional before stopping Farxiga. A healthcare provider or pharmacist will be able to provide you with the right prescribing information and medication guides to inform your decision. These Farxiga alternatives may have different uses, side effects, and dosages, which are highlighted in the table below.

Compare Farxiga alternatives
Drug name	Uses	Common side effects	Dosage	Get coupon
Farxiga (dapagliflozin)	Chronic kidney Disease Heart failure Type 2 diabetes with heart disease or risk factors for heart disease Type 2 diabetes	Vaginal yeast infection Yeast infection of the penis Stuffy or runny nose Sore throat Urinating more frequently and/or in larger amounts	5–10 mg once daily	Get Farxiga coupons
Januvia (sitagliptin)	Type 2 diabetes	Upper respiratory infection Stuffy or runny nose Sore throat Headache	100 mg once daily	Get Januvia coupons
Jardiance (empagliflozin)	Heart failure Chronic kidney disease Type 2 diabetes with cardiovascular disease Type 2 diabetes	Yeast infections UTI	10–25 mg once daily	Get Jardiance coupons
Metformin	Type 2 diabetes	Nausea  Vomiting Diarrhea Gas Stomach discomfort Indigestion Weakness  Headache	500–1,000 mg twice daily	Get metformin coupons
Mounjaro (tirzepatide)	Type 2 diabetes	Nausea Vomiting  Diarrhea Stomach pain Constipation Indigestion  Decreased appetite	Starting dose is 2.5 mg injected once per week; the healthcare provider will instruct how to gradually increase the dose	Get Mounjaro coupons
Ozempic (semaglutide)	Type 2 diabetes Cardiovascular risk reduction Kidney disease	Nausea Vomiting  Diarrhea Stomach pain Constipation	Starting dose is 0.25 mg injected once per week; the healthcare provider will instruct how to gradually increase the dose	Get Ozempic coupons
Rybelsus (semaglutide)	Type 2 diabetes	Nausea Vomiting  Diarrhea Decreased appetite Stomach pain Constipation	7–14 mg once daily	Get Rybelsus coupons
Victoza (liraglutide)	Type 2 diabetes Cardiovascular risk reduction	Nausea Vomiting  Diarrhea Decreased appetite Indigestion Constipation	Starting dose is 0.6 mg subcutaneous injection once daily; the healthcare provider will instruct how to gradually increase the dose	Get Victoza coupons

 

Other alternatives to Farxiga

Additionally, there are many other alternatives to Farxiga, including oral and injectable medications. Injectable options include either insulin or other non-insulin drugs, such as GLP-1s (like Ozempic). There are also many combination drugs—drugs that contain more than one ingredient. You can find out more about Farxiga alternatives from your healthcare provider. 

Top 5 Farxiga alternatives

Below are some common alternatives to Farxiga. When used for Type 2 diabetes, healthcare providers typically recommend incorporating lifestyle changes like diet and exercise, along with weight loss, if needed, in combination with medication.

1. Jardiance

Like Farxiga, Jardiance is an SGLT2 inhibitor. Jardiance is a brand-name drug (with no generic available) and has similar side effects to Farxiga. Farxiga and Jardiance are commonly associated with genital yeast infections and urinary tract infections (UTIs). 

Both have a diuretic effect by eliminating fluid from the body while they reduce sugar. Consequently, they can be helpful in the setting of congestive heart failure with a reduced cardiac ejection fraction (lower percentage of blood squeezed out of the pumping chambers with a heartbeat) and can help to lower blood pressure. 

Conversely, Jardiance was shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in individuals with Type 2 diabetes and high cardiovascular risk, so it may be a better alternative to Farxiga in those with high cardiovascular risk.

Based on a clinical trial, Farxiga has an additional indication from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for reducing the risk of kidney problems and kidney disease progression in chronic renal disease. 

RELATED: Jardiance side effects | Jardiance dosage

2. Mounjaro

Mounjaro is a brand-name once-weekly injectable medicine. It contains the active ingredient tirzepatide. Mounjaro is classified as a GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist. It is FDA-approved for Type 2 diabetes, and is often prescribed off-label (for a non-FDA-approved use) for weight loss and long-term weight management. The starting dose is 2.5 mg, injected once weekly, and the healthcare provider will instruct how to gradually increase the dose.

Common side effects of Mounjaro are mostly related to the stomach and intestines and include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, indigestion, stomach pain, and decreased appetite.

Mounjaro has a black box warning, the most serious warning required by the FDA. The active ingredient in Mounjaro, tirzepatide, has caused thyroid tumors in animal studies. It is not known whether this risk applies to humans. Because of this risk, people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC)—or those with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2) should not use Mounjaro. 

Tirzepatide is also available as another FDA-approved drug called Zepbound, which is a once-weekly injectable drug used for weight loss and obstructive sleep apnea. 

Compounded tirzepatide products are not FDA-approved.

RELATED: Mounjaro side effects | Mounjaro dosage

3. Metformin

The preferred initial drug and long-term maintenance drug for Type 2 diabetes mellitus is metformin, the one member of the biguanide class. Metformin helps prevent weight gain and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), and it can slow the progression of diabetes. 

Metformin, a generic medication, has a much lower cost than Farxiga. Contraindications to metformin, such as advanced kidney disease, and gastrointestinal adverse effects, like diarrhea, are limiting factors. The extended-release formulation of metformin is tried at times to lessen gastrointestinal side effects, like diarrhea.

RELATED: Metformin side effects | Metformin vs. metformin ER

4. Januvia

While it is an expensive brand-name medication, Januvia does have some advantages over Farxiga. Januvia and other dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, such as Tradjenta, Onglyza, and Nesina, avoid side effects of the genitals and urinary organs as well as orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure upon standing) that can affect Farxiga users. However, Januvia does not have FDA approvals for cardiac or kidney protection.

RELATED: Januvia side effects | Januvia dosage

5. Ozempic

Ozempic (semaglutide) is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. The starting dose is 0.25 mg, injected once weekly, and the healthcare provider will instruct how to gradually increase the dose. 

Ozempic is FDA-approved for Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular risk reduction, and kidney disease. It is frequently prescribed off-label for weight loss. 

Common side effects of Ozempic include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and constipation. 

Like Mounjaro, Ozempic has a black box warning and should not be used in those with a personal or family history of MTC or people with MEN 2. 

Semaglutide is also available as two other FDA-approved drugs:

• Rybelsus, a once-daily oral drug used for Type 2 diabetes
• Wegovy, a once-weekly injectable drug used for weight loss and cardiovascular risk reduction

Compounded semaglutide products are not FDA-approved.

Natural alternatives to Farxiga

Prescription drugs are not the only avenue for reaching diabetic treatment goals. Lifestyle measures like a reduced-calorie diet, exercise, and weight loss have proven beneficial, typically in common with medication. Dietary supplements may also help. A meta-analysis of clinical studies determined that dietary fiber is helpful in achieving glucose control in Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Cinnamon may assist somewhat as well. Always check with your doctor about allergic reactions or drug interactions that may occur prior to using natural alternatives. For some, these alternatives may not negate the need for prescription medication, but they are worth getting medical advice about from a healthcare professional.

RELATED: What’s the best diabetes diet?

How to switch to a Farxiga alternative

If you want to stop taking Farxiga, consult your healthcare provider. Whether you are looking for a cheaper option or one that avoids a particular side effect, an alternative likely exists. Farxiga can be stopped without a taper, but worsening of blood glucose levels or heart failure symptoms could be experienced upon discontinuation. For this reason, it is best to understand how to monitor for these problems and make sure the prescribing provider is in agreement with stopping the drug.