Drug class · Urinary
SGLT2 inhibitors
Also known as: gliflozins, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors
SGLT2 inhibitors are tablets used for type 2 diabetes, heart failure and chronic kidney disease. They lower blood sugar by acting on the kidneys, as the NHS describes for dapagliflozin.
- Also called
- gliflozins, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors
Mechanism of action
SGLT2 stands for sodium-glucose cotransporter-2. The NHS says dapagliflozin, a medicine of this type, makes the kidneys remove extra sugar in the urine, which lowers blood sugar. Cambridge University Hospitals says the kidney and heart benefits of these medicines apply beyond people with diabetes.
Members of the class
Members with a page on this site are linked.
Conditions treated
Class effects
- Leeds Teaching Hospitals lists genital fungal infections such as thrush as a common side effect of these medicines
- Leeds Teaching Hospitals says these medicines may cause acids called ketones to build up in the blood (diabetic ketoacidosis), with warning symptoms including stomach pain, feeling sick and vomiting, rapid breathing and dehydration, which need urgent medical help (a doctor or NHS 111 promptly, or 999 in an emergency)
Cautions
- NHS leaflets describe sick day rules, in which the medicine is stopped temporarily during illness such as infection, diarrhoea and vomiting or flu
- Severe pain, tenderness, swelling or redness around the genitals or the area between them and the anus, with fever or feeling unwell, can be a rare infection called Fournier gangrene and needs emergency help (call 999)
Class interactions
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Connected pages in detail
What each linked page on Anatomy Nexus covers, in a line, for SGLT2 inhibitors.
Conditions
- Type 2 diabetes A metabolic disease in which the body's cells respond poorly to insulin (insulin resistance) and the pancreas gradually fails to compensate.
- Heart failure A syndrome in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs, or can do so only at raised filling pressures.
- Chronic kidney disease Persistent reduction in kidney function (a filtration rate below 60 ml/min) or evidence of kidney damage such as protein in the urine.
Medications
- Dapagliflozin Dapagliflozin is a prescription tablet from the SGLT2 inhibitor group, used for type 2 diabetes, heart failure and chronic kidney disease.
- Empagliflozin Empagliflozin is a prescription medicine used to treat type 2 diabetes, heart failure and chronic kidney disease.
Educational content. A drug class page describes what a family of medicines has in common. Individual medicines differ in dose, licensing and interactions; treatment choices belong to a prescriber.