A new warning from the FDA says Farxiga side effects can include an increased risk of a flesh-eating bacteria that targets the genital area.

Farxiga (dapagliflozin) is one of a number of drugs in a class known as SGLT2 inhibitors. The FDA approved Farxiga in January 2014 to be used as a prescription medication to help lower blood sugar in adult patients diagnosed with type-2 diabetes.

The newest FDA warning of Farxiga side effects alerts patients to the risk of developing Fournier’s gangrene, a rare bacterial infection that affects the perineum, which is the area between the genitalia and the rectum.

Only six cases of the possibly fatal infection have been diagnosed over the last 30 years prior to 2013.

Even though Fournier’s gangrene is still very rare, the FDA received reports of 12 cases between March 2013 and May 2018. The first SGLT2 inhibitor to be approved by the FDA was Invokana, and that was in March 2013.

Of the dozen reported cases, seven men and five women were diagnosed, according to the FDA warning. Every patient was hospitalized for antibiotic treatment and surgery. The FDA said, “Some patients required multiple disfiguring surgeries, some developed complications, and one patient died.”

Patients Need to Monitor Farxiga Side Effects

When they were introduced to the market, SGLT2 inhibitors were widely embraced by the medical community because the medications effectively controlled blood sugar levels in patients suffering from type-2 diabetes.

SGLT2 inhibitors redirect excess sugar away from the blood stream and out the body through the kidneys.

Although these drugs are effective at controlling blood sugar, Farxiga side effects can be numerous and dangerous, including:

Dehydration: Because the sugar is redirected through the kidneys, Farxiga users will see an increase in urination. The increased urination can cause the patient to suffer from dehydration. Symptoms include dizziness, lightheadedness, or weakness upon standing up from a sitting or lying position.

Ketoacidosis: Farxiga side effects can include ketoacidosis, a potentially life-threatening condition that means there is too much acid, or ketones, in the blood. The type of ketoacidosis associated with Farxiga is possible even if blood sugar levels test in the normal range.

Kidney Problems: Farxiga side effects can include sudden kidney injury.

Serious Urinary Tract Infections: A urinary tract infection is generally easily treated with a round of antibiotics, but Farxiga side effects can include potentially dangerous urinary tract infections. Symptoms include a burning feeling upon passing urine, a feeling of an urgent need to urinate even if no urine is produced, pain in the lower part of the stomach or blood in the urine.

Yeast Infections: Both men and women have an increased risk of yeast infections in the genitalia.

Bladder Cancer: Bladder cancer was seen in more people who took Farxiga than in people taking other diabetes medications. Whether the increased risk of bladder cancer was a direct Farxiga side effect has not been determined.

Fournier’s Gangrene: This is among the latest known and most deadly of Farxiga side effects. A life-threatening bacterial infection can begin under the skin of the perineum, the area surrounding the genitalia. The bacteria enters through a cut or break in the skin and quickly spreads

Patients diagnosed with type-2 diabetes already are at an increased risk for many of these ailments due to the impaired immune system and potentially compromised cardiovascular system.

Join a Free Diabetes Medications & Flesh-Eating Infection Lawsuit Investigation

The type-2 diabetes medications linked to the flesh-eating infection include:

• Invokana
• Invokamet/Invokamet XR
• Farxiga
• Xigduo XR
• Qtern
• Jardiance
• Glyxambi
• Synjardy/Synjardy XR
• Steglato
• Segluromet
• Steglujan

If you or a loved one took one of the type-2 diabetes medications listed above and suffered from a flesh-eating genital infection, you may qualify to join this diabetes medication lawsuit investigation. Fill out the FREE form on this page for more information.

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