The side effects of type-2 diabetes drug Farxiga vary from patient to patient. Some patients say they’ve experienced minor skin irritation, while others report having developed a rare, but potentially life threatening, flesh-eating bacterial infection known as Fournier’s gangrene.

Farxiga and other sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2), which are prescribed to help control blood-sugar levels in adults with type-2 diabetes, have recently been associated with Fournier’s gangrene. The concern was the impetus for a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)  safety warning issued in 2018.

Fournier’s gangrene is a bacterial infection of the perineum, which is the tissue under the skin in the genital area and includes the muscles, nerves, fat and blood vessels. It can be very dangerous, even deadly. Fournier’s gangrene typically occurs when bacteria enter the body through a small cut, allowing bacteria to enter the bloodstream.

Between March 2013 and May 2018, the FDA identified 12 cases of the infection in patients taking an SGLT2 inhibitor. The agency notes that the figure only represents reports submitted to the FDA and found in medical literature, “so there may be additional cases about which we are unaware.”

All of the 12 patients required hospitalization, and at least one needed surgery. One patient died, according to the FDA.

SGLT2 inhibitors work by preventing the body from reabsorbing glucose and signaling the kidneys to expel excess sugar through urination. While Farxiga and other SGLT2 inhibitors have helped numerous patients, diabetes education website dLife reports that the drug has recently been associated with very serious complications.

This has spurred patients to seek more information about the side effects of Farxiga, especially in regards to Fournier’s gangrene.

What are the Common Side Effects of Farxiga?

Some of Farxiga’s most common side effects include, but are not limited to:

• Vaginal yeast infection
• Respiratory infections like cold or flu
• Urinary tract infection
• Increased urination
• Genital infection in men
• Back pain
• Nausea
• Increased cholesterol levels

Some of these complications may resolve themselves in a few days or weeks, but other, more serious issues like genital infection should be discussed with a doctor.

Are There Other Serious Side Effects of Farxiga?

More serious side effects associated with Farxiga include, but are not limited to:

• Dehydration and low blood pressure, with symptoms including dizziness, fatigue, and weakness when standing up
• Ketoacidosis (buildup of blood acids in blood or urine), with symptoms including nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fatigue, and breathing difficulty
• Kidney Damage, with symptoms including reduced urination, swelling in legs or ankles, and confusion
• Serious Urinary Tract Infection, with symptoms including burning sensation during urination, frequent urination, blood in urine, and lower abdominal pain
• Allergic Reactions, with symptoms including rash, skin irritation, swelling, and breathing difficulty
• Genital Infection (Fournier’s gangrene), with symptoms including fever and severe discomfort

Does Farxiga Cause Fournier’s Gangrene?

Currently there is no definitive answer as to whether Farxiga causes Fournier’s gangrene, but documented cases suggest a correlation. In its safety warning, the FDA linked the SGLT2 inhibitor class with the infection.

The agency now requires SGLT2 inhibitor manufacturers to include a warning about their respective drugs’ side effects, specifically the potential for infection to the genitals or genital region, WebMD reports.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Fournier’s Gangrene?

Early symptoms of Fournier’s gangrene include, but are not limited to:

• Pain, tenderness, swelling, or reddening in the genital or rectal area
• Fever
• Malaise (full body discomfort)

Fournier’s gangrene is more common in men than women, but of five of the 12 reported cases linked to patients taking an SGLT2 inhibitor were women.

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.

Learn More