Farflozin 5 mg

FARFLOZIN contains dapagliflozin. It belongs to a group of medicines called “sodium glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors”. They work by blocking the SGLT2 protein in your kidney. By blocking this protein, blood sugar (glucose), salt (sodium) and water are removed from your body via the urine.

These are used to treat the following conditions:

• FARFLOZIN is used in adult patients (aged 18 years and older) to treat:
• Type 2 diabetes - If your type 2 diabetes cannot be controlled with diet and exercise.
• - FARFLOZIN can be used on its own or together with other medicines to treat diabetes.
• - FARFLOZIN is used for prevention and treatment of heart failure (when the heart does not pump enough blood that the body needs).
• FARFLOZIN is also used in patients with chronic kidney disease (reduced kidney function).

Do not take FARFLOZIN:

• If you are allergic to dapagliflozin or any of the other ingredients of this medicine listed in section 6
• If you are pregnant plan to become pregnant. Talk with your doctor about the best way to control your blood sugar while you are pregnant.
• If you are breastfeeding, talk to your doctor if you would like to breastfeed your baby.
• If you have diabetes mellitus type 1 – the type that usually starts when you are young, and your body does not produce any insulin.
• If you have moderate or severe kidney disease or you are on dialysis.
• If you have a history of inflammation of the pancreas or pancreatic surgery.

Warnings and precautions

Take special care with FARFLOZIN:

• If you are going to have a surgery.
• If you are eating less due to illness or surgery, or you are dieting
• If you have or have had problems with your pancreas.
• If you drink large amounts of alcohol, either every day or only from time to time.
• If you develop any of the following symptoms, which may be signs of ketoacidosis: nausea, vomiting, stomach-area (abdominal) pain, tiredness, difficulty breathing, increased levels of “ketone bodies” in your blood or urine. If this happens to you contact a doctor or the nearest hospital immediately.
• If you have mild kidney disease your doctor will want to monitor your kidney function on an ongoing basis.
• If you often get infections of the urinary tract.
• If you are allergic to any other medicine used to lower the amount of sugar in your blood.

If any of the above apply to you (or you are not sure), talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking FARFLOZIN.

Use in children and adolescents

The use of FARFLOZIN in children and adolescents (below the age of 18 years) is not recommended.

Other medicines and FARFLOZIN

Always tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other medicine. (This includes complementary or traditional medicines.) Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• if you are taking a medicine used to remove water from the body (diuretic).
• if you have type 2 diabetes and are taking other medicines that lower the amount of sugar in your blood such as insulin or a “sulphonylurea” medicine. Your doctor may want to lower the dose of these other medicines, to prevent you from getting low blood sugar levels (hypoglycaemia).

Do not share medicines prescribed for you with any other person. Always take FARFLOZIN exactly as your doctor has instructed you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. The recommended dose is one 10 mg tablet each day.

If you have the impression that the effect of FARFLOZIN is too strong or too weak, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

If you take more FARFLOZIN than you should

In the event of over dosage, consult your doctor or pharmacist. If neither is available, contact the nearest hospital or poison control centre.

If you forget to take FARFLOZIN

It is important to take your FARFLOZIN regularly at the same time each day. If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at the same time, to make up for a missed dose.

If you stop taking FARFLOZIN

If FARFLOZIN is stopped earlier than your doctor has prescribed, your symptoms of may return or worsen. Always take FARFLOZIN for as long as your doctor has prescribed.

Diabetic ketoacidosis (diabetic coma) and similar side effects may occur. Symptoms are nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fatigue, thirst, passing of large volumes of urine, shortness of breath and mental confusion. Urgent medical attention is required.

FARFLOZIN can have side effects. Not all side effects reported for FARFLOZIN are included in this leaflet. Should your general health worsen or if you experience any untoward effects while taking FARFLOZIN, please consult your doctor, pharmacist or other healthcare professional for advice.

If you have a hypersensitive (allergic) reaction, stop taking FARFLOZIN and tell your doctor immediately or go to the casualty department of your nearest hospital.

Tell your doctor immediately or go to the casualty department at your nearest hospital if you notice any of the following:

• Very dry or sticky mouth, feeling very thirsty
• Feeling very sleepy or tired
• Passing little or no water (urine)
• Fast heart beat
• These are signs of losing too much fluid from your body (volume depletion or dehydration.)
• Fever or chills
• Burning sensation when passing water (urinating)
• Pain in your back or side
• Blood in your urine, although uncommon
• These are signs of a severe infection of the urinary tract.

These are all serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention.

Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following:

• Frequent Low blood sugar levels (hypoglycaemia) – when taking this medicine with other medication or insulin to treat your diabetes. These are signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia):
• shaking, sweating, feeling very anxious, fast heart beat
• feeling hungry, headache, change in vision
• a change in your mood or feeling confused
• Your doctor will tell you how to treat low blood sugar and what to do if you get any of the signs above.
• genital infection (thrush) of your penis or vagina (signs may include irritation, itching, unusual discharge or odour)
• back pain
• passing more water (urine) than usual or needing to pass water more often
• High sugar levels (glucose) in urine (shown in tests).
• changes in the amount of cholesterol or fats in your blood (shown in tests)
• Broken bones, if you already have moderate kidney problems.
• increases in the amount of red blood cells in your blood (shown in tests)
• decreases in creatinine renal clearance (shown in tests) in the beginning of treatment
• Dizziness
• rash

Less frequent:

• loss of too much fluid from your body (dehydration, signs may include very dry or sticky mouth, passing little or no urine or fast heartbeat)
• Increased thirst
• Constipation
• Itching of the genitals
• Increased sweating
• Tight foreskin which may cause difficulty urinating or inflammation of glans or foreskin (phimosis).
• Awakening from sleep at night to pass urine
• Dry mouth
• Weight decreased
• Increases in creatinine (shown in laboratory blood tests) in the beginning of treatment.
• Increases in urea (shown in laboratory tests)

If you notice any side effects not mentioned in this leaflet, please inform your doctor or pharmacist. Should your general health worsen or if you experience any untoward effects while taking FARFLOZIN, please consult your healthcare provider for advice.

Reporting of side effects

If you get side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects to SAHPRA via the “6.04 Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Form”, found online under SAHPRA’s publications: https://www.sahpra.org.za/Publications/Index/8. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of FARFLOZIN.

Store at or below 25 °C. KEEP OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN. Store in the original package / container. Keep the blisters in the carton until required for use. Do not store in a bathroom. Do not use after the expiry date stated on the blister / label / carton bottle. Return all unused medicine to your pharmacist. Do not dispose of unused medicine in drains or sewerage systems (e.g. toilets).