What is Invokana (Canagliflozin) used for?
Invokana is a drug used to treat type II diabetes and belongs to a family of medicines called sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. It is a prescription drug available in the form of a tablet and in, the following strengths:
- 100 mg
- 300 mg
It contains Canagliflozin as the active ingredient. It is used in individuals aged 18 years and above and it’s used alone or with other drugs. It is advisable to be aware of the side effects of Invokana so that they don’t cause panic if they occur. People with type II diabetes have elevated levels of blood glucose as the insulin, which aids to move sugar from the cells is inadequate or the body doesn’t utilize it as it’s supposed to. If treatment isn’t given, the condition may result in health complications.
In a natural situation, the kidney’s role is to filter the blood and sugar is filtered from the blood at the same time. The sugar is reabsorbed back into the blood through a mechanism known as sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2). The kidneys take in glucose back into your blood even if the blood sugar levels are elevated, like in the case of diabetes. This is when Invokana comes in handy to regulate blood glucose level for type II diabetes individual. It inhibits the SGLT2 transporter, thus the kidneys remove excess glucose from the blood stream and excreted in the urine. This controls the blood sugar levels. The medication has other effects which may be beneficial to diabetic patients. It can trigger weight loss due to loss of sugar from the body. Additionally, it increases the amount of water filtered from the bloodstream and into urine though the increase is minimal; this can aid in lowering blood pressure. The patient taking the drug should be on the lookout for side effects for Invokana.
How does Canagliflozin work?
This medication works by inhibiting SGLT2, which is a carrier that helps in the reabsorption of sugar into the bloodstream via the kidney. This occurs when blood is filtered out of the kidney into the urine. Invokana inhibits one of the transporters so that it can prevent sugar being reabsorbed back into the bloodstream. This will lead to excess sugar or glucose being excreted via urine.
Warnings and Precautions
What you should do
In case you are planning to become pregnant, you should inform your doctor before you start taking the drug. Before you start taking new medication, you need to inform your doctor and pharmacist that you are using Invokana. Taking Canagliflozin in combination with other drugs may lead to hypoglycemia, which can inhibit your ability to operate machines.
What you should not do
Invokana should not be shared with other people even if they have the same symptoms as yours. This drug can have serious side effects when it is taken by people who are not prescribed to take it. You should never miss a dose or increase Invokana dosing without informing your doctor. To prevent the risk of your blood sugar rising, you should not lower or increase the dosage than what your doctor recommended for you. You should not use this medicine to treat high blood sugar if it has expired.
Storage
Invokana should be kept in the container it came with, in a dry place. The temperature should be below 25 degrees Celsius. You Should keep the medicine away from the reach of children. An ideal place would be in a cupboard which has a lock.
You can order Invokana at canadianinsulin.com!
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Disclaimer: Please note that the contents of this community article are strictly for informational purposes and should not be considered as medical advice. This article, and other community articles, are not written or reviewed for medical validity by Canadian Insulin or its staff. All views and opinions expressed by the contributing authors are not endorsed by Canadian Insulin. Always consult a medical professional for medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment.
