Invokana

Invokana treats Type 2 Diabetes. Invokana can cause yeast infections and urinary tract infections.

Invokana Overview

Reviewed: April 1, 2013
Updated: 

Invokana is a prescription medication used to treat type 2 diabetes. It belongs to a group of drugs called sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. Invokana lowers blood sugar by causing the kidneys to get rid of more glucose in the urine.

This medication comes in tablet form. It is taken by mouth, usually once daily before breakfast.

Common side effects include yeast infections and urinary tract infections.

 

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Invokana Cautionary Labels

precautionsprecautionsprecautions

Uses of Invokana

Invokana is a prescription medication used to treat type 2 diabetes. 

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

 

Manufacturer

Invokana Drug Class

Invokana is part of the drug class:

Side Effects of Invokana

Serious side effects have been reported. See "Precautions" section.

Common side effects include:

  • vaginal yeast infections and yeast infections of the penis 
  • urinary tract infection
  • changes in urination, including urgent need to urinate more often, in larger amounts, or at night

This is not a complete list of Invokana side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

 

Invokana Interactions

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

  • diuretics (water pills)
  • rifampin (used to treat or prevent tuberculosis)
  • phenytoin or phenobarbital (used to control seizures)
  • ritonavir (Norvir, Kaletra, Lopinavir) (used to treat HIV infection)
  • digoxin (Lanoxin) (used to treat heart problems)

This is not a complete list of Invokana drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

 

Invokana Precautions

Invokana can cause important side effects, including:
  • Dehydration. Invokana can cause some people to have dehydration (the loss of body water and salt). Dehydration may cause you to feel dizzy, faint, lightheaded, or weak, especially when you stand up (orthostatic hypotension).
    You may be at higher risk of dehydration if you:
    • have low blood pressure
    • take medicines to lower your blood pressure, including diuretics (water pill)
    • are on low sodium (salt) diet
    • have kidney problems
    • are 65 years of age or older
  • Vaginal yeast infection. Women who take Invokana may get vaginal yeast infections. Symptoms of a vaginal yeast infection include:
    • vaginal odor
    • white or yellowish vaginal discharge (discharge may be lumpy or look like cottage cheese)
    • vaginal itching
  • Yeast infection of the penis (balanitis or balanoposthitis). Men who take Invokana may get a yeast infection of the skin around the penis. Certain men who are not circumcised may have swelling of the penis that makes it difficult to pull back the skin around the tip of the penis. Other symptoms of yeast infection of the penis include:
    • redness, itching, or swelling of the penis
    • rash of the penis
    • foul smelling discharge from the penis
    • pain in the skin around penis

Talk to your doctor about what to do if you get symptoms of a yeast infection of the vagina or penis. Your doctor may suggest you use an over-the-counter antifungal medicine. Talk to your doctor right away if you use an over-the-counter antifungal medication and your symptoms do not go away.

  • kidney problems
  • a high amount of potassium in your blood (hyperkalemia)
  • low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). If you take Invokana with another medicine that can cause low blood sugar, such as a sulfonylurea or insulin, your risk of getting low blood sugar is higher. The dose of your sulfonylurea medicine or insulin may need to be lowered while you take Invokana.
    Signs and symptoms of low blood sugar may include:
  • headache
  • drowsiness
  • weakness
  • dizziness
  • confusion
  • irritability
  • hunger
  • fast heart-beat
  • sweating
  • shaking or feeling jittery
  • serious allergic reaction. If you have any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, stop taking Invokana and call your doctor right away or go to the nearest hospital emergency room. Your doctor may give you a medicine for your allergic reaction and prescribe a different medicine for your diabetes.
  • bone fractures. Patients taking Invokana are at an increased risk of bone fractures. In addition, this medication may decrease bone mineral density. 

Do not take Invokana if you:

  • are allergic to Invokana or any of its ingredients. Symptoms of allergic reaction to Invokana may include:
    • rash
    • raised red patches on your skin (hives)
    • swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and throat that may cause difficulty in breathing or swallowing
  • have severe kidney problems or are on dialysis.

Invokana Food Interactions

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Invokana, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Inform MD

Before you take Invokana, tell your doctor if you:

  • have kidney problems
  • have liver problems
  • are on a low sodium (salt) diet. Your doctor may change your diet or your dose of Invokana.
  • have ever had an allergic reaction to Invokana
  • have other medical conditions
  • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Invokana will harm your unborn baby. If you are pregnant, talk with your doctor about the best way to control your blood sugar while you are pregnant.
  • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Invokana passes into your breast milk. Talk with your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you are taking Invokana.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

 

Invokana and Pregnancy

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Invokana falls into catagory C. In animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication and had some babies born with problems. No well-controlled studies have been done in humans. Therefore, this medication may be used if the potential benefits to the mother outweigh the potential risks to the unborn child.

Invokana and Lactation

It is not known if Invokana crosses into human milk. Because many medications can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this medication, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using Invokana.

Invokana Usage

  • Take Invokana by mouth 1 time each day exactly as your doctor tells you to take it.
  • Your doctor will tell you how much Invokana to take and when to take it. Your doctor may change your dose if needed.
  • It is best to take Invokana before the first meal of the day.
  • Your doctor may tell you to take Invokana along with other diabetes medicines. Low blood sugar can happen more often when Invokana is taken with certain other diabetes medicines.
  • If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take two doses of Invokana at the same time. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about a missed dose.
  • If you take too much Invokana, call your doctor or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.
  • When your body is under some types of stress, such as fever, trauma (such as a car accident), infection, or surgery, the amount of diabetes medicine you need may change. Tell your doctor right away if you have any of these conditions and follow your doctor's instructions.
  • Stay on your prescribed diet and exercise program while taking Invokana.
  • Check your blood sugar as your doctor tells you to.
  • Invokana will cause your urine to test positive for glucose.
  • Your doctor may do certain blood tests before you start Invokana and during treatment as needed. Your doctor may change your dose of Invokana based on the results of your blood tests.
  • Your doctor will check your diabetes with regular blood tests, including your blood sugar levels and your hemoglobin A1C.

 

Invokana Dosage

The recommended starting dose of Invokana is 100 mg once daily, taken before the first meal of the day. If necessary, the dose can be increased to 300 mg once daily.

Invokana Overdose

If you take too much Invokana, call your doctor or local poison control center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

Other Requirements

  • Store at room temperature between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C).
  • Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children.