Dosing & Uses
Dosage Forms & Strengths
dapagliflozin/saxagliptin
tablet
- 10mg/5mg
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who have inadequate control with dapagliflozin or who are already treated with dapagliflozin and saxagliptin
1 tablet (ie, 10mg/5mg) PO qDay in AM with or without food
Dosage Modifications
Renal impairment
- eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m²: Do not initiate
- Discontinue if eGFR persistently falls to <60 mL/min/1.73 m²
- eGFR <45 mL/min/1.73 m²: Contraindicated
Hepatic impairment
- May be administered with hepatic impairment
- Severe hepatic impairment: Individually assess benefit-risk
Coadministration with strong CYP3A4/5 inhibitors
- Do not coadminister with strong CYP3A4/5 inhibitors
- Examples include ketoconazole, atazanavir, clarithromycin, indinavir, itraconazole, nefazodone, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir, and telithromycin
Dosing Considerations
In patients with volume depletion, correct this condition prior to initiating drug
Assess renal function before initiating and periodically thereafter
Limitations of use
- Not indicated for type 1 diabetes mellitus or diabetic ketoacidosis
- Should only be used in patients who tolerate dapagliflozin 10 mg
Safety and efficacy not established
Interactions
Interaction Checker
No Results

Contraindicated
Serious - Use Alternative
Significant - Monitor Closely
Minor

Adverse Effects
>10%
Upper respiratory tract infection (13.6%)
1-10%
Urinary tract infection (5.7%)
Dyslipidemia (5.1%)
Headache (4.3%)
Diarrhea (3.7%)
Back pain (3.3%)
Genital infection (3%)
Arthralgia (2.4%)
Renal impairment (2%)
Increased serum inorganic phosphorus (1.7%)
Hypoglycemia (1.6%)
Increased hematocrit (1.3%)
Elevated creatine kinase (1%)
<1%
Volume depletion (hypotension, dehydration, hypovolemia)
Acute pancreatitis
Decreased lymphocyte count
Newly diagnosed bladder cancer
Postmarketing Reports
Saxagliptin
- Hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis, angioedema, and exfoliative skin conditions
- Pancreatitis
- Severe and disabling arthralgia
- Bullous pemphigoid
- Rhabdomyolysis
Dapagliflozin
- Ketoacidosis
- Acute kidney injury and impaired renal function
- Urosepsis and pyelonephritis
- Rash
Warnings
Contraindications
History of hypersensitivity to dapagliflozin or saxagliptin, including anaphylaxis, angioedema, or exfoliative skin conditions
Moderate-to-severe renal impairment (eGFR <45 mL/min/1.73 m²), end-stage renal disease, or patients on dialysis
Cautions
Acute pancreatitis reported; after initiating drug, monitor for signs and symptoms of pancreatitis; if suspected, promptly discontinue dapagliflozin/saxagliptin and initiate appropriate management
Necrotizing fasciitis of the perineum (Fournier gangrene) reported with SGLT2 inhibitors; signs and symptoms include tenderness, redness, or swelling of the genitals or the area from the genitals back to the rectum, and have a fever above 100.4 F or a general feeling of being unwell; if suspected, discontinue SGLT2 inhibitor and start treatment immediately with broad-spectrum antibiotics and surgical debridement if necessary
May increase risk for developing heart failure (HF) or exacerbation of existing HR; observe patients for signs and symptoms of HF
Dapagliflozin causes intravascular volume contraction; symptomatic hypotension and acute kidney injury can occur, particularly with impaired renal function, elderly patients, chronic renal insufficiency, congestive HF, or coadministration of certain drugs (eg, diuretics, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, NSAIDs); before initiating, volume status should be assessed and corrected; do not initiate if eGFR is <60 mL/min/1.73 m²
Evaluate renal function prior to initiation of therapy and monitor periodically thereafter; contraindicated in patients with an eGFR <45 mL/min/1.73 m²
Hypoglycemia risk increased with insulin and insulin secretagogues; adjust dose
Genital mycotic infections may occur; patients with history of genital mycotic infections and uncircumcised males are more susceptible
Increases risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs), including life-threatening urosepsis and pyelonephritis that started as UTIs; evaluate for signs and symptoms of UTIs and treat promptly, if indicated
Dose-related increases in LDL-C reported with dapagliflozin
Across 22 clinical studies, newly diagnosed cases of bladder cancer were reported in 10 (0.17%)/6045 patients treated with dapagliflozin and 1 (0.03%)/3512 patient treated with placebo/comparator; bladder cancer risk factors and hematuria (a potential indicator of preexisting tumors) were balanced between treatment arms at baseline and there were too few cases to determine whether the emergence of these events is related to dapagliflozin
Do not administer to patients with active bladder cancer and should be administered with caution in patients with a prior history of bladder cancer
No conclusive evidence of macrovascular risk reduction with dapagliflozin or any other antidiabetic agent
GLT2 inhibitors increase urinary glucose excretion and will lead to positive urine glucose tests; use alternative methods to monitor glycemic control
Severe and disabling arthralgia reported in patients taking DPP-4 inhibitors; consider as a possible cause for severe joint pain and discontinue drug if appropriate
Serious hypersensitivity reactions with saxagliptin reported (typically within the first 3 months of therapy)
Postmarketing cases of bullous pemphigoid requiring hospitalization have been reported with DPP-4 inhibitor use; patients typically recovered with topical or systemic immunosuppressive treatment and discontinuation of the DPP-4 inhibitor
Ketoacidosis
- Before initiating therapy, consider factors in patient history that may predispose to ketoacidosis, including pancreatic insulin deficiency from any cause, caloric restriction, and alcohol abuse
- Consider temporarily discontinuing therapy for at least 3 days for patients who undergo scheduled surgery
- Consider monitoring for ketoacidosis and temporarily discontinuing therapy in other clinical situations known to predispose to ketoacidosis (eg, prolonged fasting due to acute illness or post-surgery); ensure risk factors for ketoacidosis are resolved prior to restarting therapy
- Educate patients on signs and symptoms of ketoacidosis and instruct patients to discontinue therapy and seek medical attention immediately if signs and symptoms occur
Pregnancy
Pregnancy
Not recommended during the second and third trimesters
Adverse renal affects shown in animal studies
Animal studies
- Adverse renal pelvic and tubular dilatations, that were not fully reversible, were observed in juvenile rats when dapagliflozin was administered at an exposure 15-times the exposure at the 10-mg clinical dose during a period of renal development corresponding to the late second and third trimesters of human pregnancy
- Saxagliptin did not show adverse effects during organogenesis, corresponding to the first trimester of human pregnancy
Lactation
Unknown if distributed in human breast milk
Saxagliptin and dapagliflozin are present in the milk of lactating rats; since human kidney maturation occurs in utero and during the first 2 years of life when lactational exposure may occur, there may be risk to the developing human kidney
Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in a breastfed infant, advise women that use of dapagliflozin/saxagliptin is not recommended while breastfeeding
Pregnancy Categories
A: Generally acceptable. Controlled studies in pregnant women show no evidence of fetal risk.
B: May be acceptable. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies done and showed no risk. C: Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done. D: Use in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug available. Positive evidence of human fetal risk. X: Do not use in pregnancy. Risks involved outweigh potential benefits. Safer alternatives exist. NA: Information not available.Pharmacology
Mechanism of Action
Dapagliflozin: Selective sodium-glucose transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor; SGLT-2, expressed in the proximal renal tubules, is responsible for the majority of the reabsorption of filtered glucose from the tubular lumen; SGLT2 inhibitors reduce glucose reabsorption and lower the renal threshold for glucose, thereby increasing urinary glucose excretion
Saxagliptin: Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-4) inhibition that results in increased incretin hormones and enhanced glycemic control; incretin hormones cause insulin release from the pancreatic beta cells in a glucose-dependent manner, but are inactivated by the DDP-4 enzyme within minutes
Absorption
Bioavailability
- Dapagliflozin: 78%; high-fat meal decreases absolute bioavailability by 50%
Peak plasma time
- Dapagliflozin: 2 hr (fasting); 3 hr (high-fat meal)
- Saxagliptin: 2 hr; 4 hr (active metabolite)
Peak plasma concentration
- Saxagliptin: 24 ng/mL
- Saxagliptin active metabolite: 47 ng/mL
AUC
- Saxagliptin: 78 ng·h/mL
- Saxagliptin active metabolite: 214 ng·h/mL
Distribution
Protein bound
- Dapagliflozin: 91%
- Saxagliptin and active metabolite: Negligible
Metabolism
Dapagliflozin
- Primarily mediated by UGT1A9
- CYP-mediated metabolism is a minor clearance pathway in humans
- Extensively metabolized, primarily to dapagliflozin 3-O-glucuronide (inactive)
Saxagliptin
- Primarily mediated by CYP3A4/5
- The major metabolite of saxagliptin is also a DPP-4 inhibitor, which is 50% as potent as saxagliptin
- Strong CYP3A4/5 inhibitors and inducers alter the pharmacokinetics of saxagliptin and its active metabolite
Elimination
Half-life
- Dapagliflozin: 12.9 hr
- Saxagliptin: 2.5 hr; 3.1 hr (active metabolite)
Renal clearance
- Saxagliptin: 230 mL/min
Excretion
Dapagliflozin
- Renal: 75% (<2% as parent drug)
- Feces: 21% (15% as parent drug)
Saxagliptin
- Renal: 24%; 36% (active metabolite); 75% (total radioactivity)
- Feces: 22%
Administration
Oral Administration
Take once daily in the morning
May take with or without food
Do not split or cut tablets
Storage
Store at controlled room temperature; 20-25°C (68-77°F)
Excursion permitted to 15-30°C (59-86°F)
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Patient Handout
Formulary
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