Abstract

Canagliflozin for Type 2 diabetes: an up-to-date evidence summary

Author(s): Aris Liakos, Thomas Karagiannis, Eleni Bekiari & Apostolos Tsapas

Canagliflozin is a newly approved sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor for Type 2 diabetes. It is used along with diet and exercise in patients who are intolerant to metformin, or as an adjunct to other antidiabetic agents including insulin when glycemic control is inadequate. Canagliflozin effectively lowers blood glucose without increasing risk for hypoglycemia. It also reduces body weight and blood pressure but is associated with increased incidence of genital tract infections. Caution is warranted for patients at risk for volume depletion, such as elderly subjects, patients treated with diuretics and patients with renal impairment. Based on local prescribing information, canagliflozin should not be initiated or its dose should be adjusted in patients with stage 3 chronic kidney disease or higher.