canagliflozin
Brand names: Invokana
Invokana is a medicine used with diet and exercise to lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. It can also help reduce the risk of heart problems and kidney disease in some patients.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$19.17/unit
Generic Available
No
JANSSEN PHARMS
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Invokana is used to help control blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Common side effects
Yeast infections of the vagina, Urinary tract infection, Increased urination
Key warnings
Invokana can cause serious side effects, including: - Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA): This is a serious condition where your body produces high levels of blood acids called ketones.
How It Works
Invokana is a type of medicine called an SGLT2 inhibitor. It works by preventing your kidneys from reabsorbing sugar back into your blood. This causes extra sugar to leave your body through your urine, which lowers your blood sugar levels.
How to Take It
Take Invokana once a day, before your first meal of the day. Your doctor will start you on either 100 mg or 300 mg. They may change your dose depending on how well the medicine works and your kidney function. If you are taking certain other medicines, your doctor may need to adjust your Invokana dose.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Invokana is not recommended during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy because it may harm the developing baby's kidneys. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not recommended to use Invokana while breastfeeding.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose of Invokana, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time.
Storage
Store Invokana at room temperature, away from moisture and heat.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 16,917 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 29,554 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2011–2025.
Total Reports
29,554
Death-Related Reports
678
Hospitalization Reports
10,619
Top Indication
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DIABETIC KETOACIDOSIS | 3,421 |
| 2 | TOE AMPUTATION | 2,195 |
| 3 | OSTEOMYELITIS | 2,163 |
| 4 | ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY | 1,990 |
| 5 | FUNGAL INFECTION | 1,446 |
| 6 | WEIGHT DECREASED | 1,340 |
| 7 | BLOOD GLUCOSE INCREASED | 1,227 |
| 8 | GANGRENE | 1,084 |
| 9 | CELLULITIS | 1,035 |
| 10 | URINARY TRACT INFECTION | 1,016 |
| 11 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 1,004 |
| 12 | OFF LABEL USE | 1,004 |
| 13 | NAUSEA | 997 |
| 14 | DIZZINESS | 839 |
| 15 | DIABETIC FOOT INFECTION | 834 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Invokana can cause serious side effects, including: - Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA): This is a serious condition where your body produces high levels of blood acids called ketones. DKA can be life-threatening. - Lower limb amputation: Invokana may increase your risk of needing an amputation of your foot or leg. - Volume depletion: Invokana can cause dehydration, which can lead to kidney problems and low blood pressure. - Serious infections: Invokana can increase your risk of urinary tract infections and a rare but serious infection of the tissue under the skin in the area between and around the anus and genitals (Fournier's gangrene).
Known Drug Interactions
Examples: Rifampin, phenytoin, phenobarbital, ritonavir Insulin or Insulin Secretagogues Clinical Impact: The risk of hypoglycemia is increased when INVOKANA is used concomitantly with insulin secretagogues (e.g., sulfonylurea) or insulin.
Mechanism: Rifampin causes your body to process and remove the diabetes medicine more quickly than usual. This can make the diabetes medicine less effective at lowering your blood sugar.
What to do: Your doctor may need to check your blood sugar levels more often. They might need to increase your dose of the diabetes medicine while you are taking rifampin.
Examples: Rifampin, phenytoin, phenobarbital, ritonavir Insulin or Insulin Secretagogues Clinical Impact: The risk of hypoglycemia is increased when INVOKANA is used concomitantly with insulin secretagogues (e.g., sulfonylurea) or insulin.
Mechanism: Phenytoin can cause your body to process canagliflozin more quickly, which may lower the amount of medicine in your system.
What to do: Your doctor may need to monitor your blood sugar more closely or adjust your dose of canagliflozin.
Examples: Rifampin, phenytoin, phenobarbital, ritonavir Insulin or Insulin Secretagogues Clinical Impact: The risk of hypoglycemia is increased when INVOKANA is used concomitantly with insulin secretagogues (e.g., sulfonylurea) or insulin.
Mechanism: Phenobarbital speeds up the breakdown of canagliflozin in your body, which can make the diabetes medicine less effective.
What to do: Monitor your blood sugar levels regularly and consult your doctor about potential dosage changes.
Lithium Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of an SGLT2 inhibitor with lithium may decrease serum lithium concentrations. Intervention: Monitor serum lithium concentration more frequently during INVOKANA initiation and dosage changes.
Mechanism: Canagliflozin can cause the body to remove lithium more quickly, which lowers the amount of lithium in your blood.
What to do: Your doctor should check your lithium blood levels more often when you start or change your dose of canagliflozin.
Digoxin Clinical Impact: Canagliflozin increases digoxin exposure [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Intervention: Monitor patients taking INVOKANA with concomitant digoxin for a need to adjust the dosage of digoxin.
Mechanism: Canagliflozin can increase the amount of digoxin that stays in your body.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor you closely to see if your digoxin dose needs to be adjusted.
Common Questions
What should I do if I think I have ketoacidosis?
Can Invokana be used for type 1 diabetes?
Will Invokana cause low blood sugar?
How often will my doctor check my kidney function?
What if I need surgery?
Can Invokana cause bone problems?
Does Invokana interact with other medications?
What are the symptoms of a urinary tract infection?
How will I know if Invokana is working?
Can Invokana cause dehydration?
What are the common side effects of canagliflozin?
Does canagliflozin interact with other medications?
What drug class is canagliflozin?
Is canagliflozin safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in SGLT2 Inhibitor
Other drugs grouped near canagliflozin — same-class peers and common alternatives.
acarbose
Precose
Acarbose is a medicine that helps lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
Compare with canagliflozin →
alogliptin
Nesina
Alogliptin and Metformin HCl is a drug that helps lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Compare with canagliflozin →
bromocriptine
Cycloset
Bromocriptine (Cycloset) is a medicine that acts like dopamine in your body.
Compare with canagliflozin →
colesevelam
Welchol
Colesevelam is a medicine that helps lower bad cholesterol (LDL-C) and control blood sugar in adults.
Compare with canagliflozin →
dapagliflozin
Farxiga
Dapagliflozin (Farxiga) helps lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Compare with canagliflozin →
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
Related Health & Safety Data
🩺 Find a Doctor
Search prescribers for SGLT2 Inhibitor
🏨 Hospital Quality
CMS hospital ratings, safety scores & patient outcomes
💊 Supplement Data
NIH DSLD — check supplement ingredients & label claims
🍽️ Food Safety Alerts
FDA recalls, inspections & outbreak investigations
⚠️ Product Recalls
FDA, CPSC & NHTSA recall search
💉 Procedure Costs
Medicare procedure pricing for 9,297 procedures
Save on canagliflozin
Compare prices and find discounts at pharmacies near you. Free coupons can save up to 80% on prescriptions.
Disclosure: This link may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. See our terms.
What the FDA Data Shows for canagliflozin
The FDA label for canagliflozin (sold under brand names such as Invokana) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the SGLT2 Inhibitor class. Invokana is used to help control blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. Official labeling lists 3 commonly reported side effects, including Yeast infections of the vagina, Urinary tract infection, Increased urination.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 16,917 voluntary reports. The database also lists 5 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. NADAC pricing from CMS.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: October 24, 2023
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages