Dapagliflozin (DGZ)

Dapagliflozin is a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes. Although dapagliflozin"""s method of action would operate on both types of diabetes and other conditions resulting in hyperglycemia, the current clinical trials specifically exclude participants with type 1 diabetes. Dapagliflozin inhibits subtype 2 of the sodium-glucose transport proteins (SGLT2), which is responsible for at least 90% of the glucose reabsorption in the kidney. Blocking this transporter causes blood glucose to be eliminated through the urine. The efficacy of the this medication class has yet to be determined, but in initial clinical trials, dapagliflozin lowers HbA1c by 0.90 percentage points when added to metformin. Since dapagliflozin leads to heavy glycosuria it can lead to rapid weight loss and tiredness. The glucose acts as an osmotic diuretic (this effect is the cause of polyuria in diabetes) which can lead to dehydration. Dapagliflozin is also associated with hypotensive reactions.