[Dapagliflozin. Lowering blood glucose levels by increasing glucosuria]

Med Monatsschr Pharm. 2013 Apr;36(4):128-32.
[Article in German]

Abstract

The antidiabetic drug dapagliflozin lowers blood glucose levels by a novel mechanism: It increases the excretion of glucose via the kidneys. In clinical trials, HbA1c decreased by 0.5 to 0.7 percentage points if dapagliflozin was administered either in monotherapy or combined with other antidiabetic drugs. Common side effects are infections of the urogenital system. It is still unclear why patients in clinical trials suffered more often from cancer. Especially bladder cancer could be observed. However, the increase of cancer cases was not statistically significant. In contrast to the European Medicines Agency, the FDA has not yet approved dapagliflozin for safety reasons.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Benzhydryl Compounds
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Diabetes Mellitus / drug therapy
  • Diabetes Mellitus / metabolism
  • Drug Interactions
  • Glucosides / administration & dosage
  • Glucosides / adverse effects*
  • Glucosides / pharmacokinetics
  • Glucosides / pharmacology*
  • Glucosides / therapeutic use*
  • Glycosuria / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Benzhydryl Compounds
  • Blood Glucose
  • Glucosides
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • dapagliflozin