Prescription medication · SGLT2 Inhibitor
canagliflozin
Also sold as Invokana. Invokana is used to help control blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 29,554
- FDA reportsModerately reported
- 5
- InteractionsFew interactions
- $19.17
- Brand price (NADAC)
What the data shows
canagliflozin (Invokana) is a prescription SGLT2 Inhibitor, reported at a middle-of-the-pack volume (29,554 FDA reports), with 5 documented drug interactions.
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
canagliflozin (Invokana) is a prescription SGLT2 Inhibitor. Invokana is used to help control blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes.
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.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
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.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from canagliflozin's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
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.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 29,554 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for canagliflozin, by number of reports
- Diabetic Ketoacidosis
Diabetic Ketoacidosis
3,421 reports
- Toe Amputation
Toe Amputation
2,195 reports
- Osteomyelitis
Osteomyelitis
2,163 reports
- Acute Kidney Injury
Acute Kidney Injury
1,990 reports
- Fungal Infection
Fungal Infection
1,446 reports
- Weight Decreased 1,340
Weight Decreased
1,340 reports
- Blood Glucose Increased 1,227
Blood Glucose Increased
1,227 reports
- Gangrene 1,084
Gangrene
1,084 reports
- Cellulitis 1,035
Cellulitis
1,035 reports
- Urinary Tract Infection 1,016
Urinary Tract Infection
1,016 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for canagliflozin each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where canagliflozin sits
canagliflozin has more FDA adverse-event reports than 63% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is canagliflozin; the line is the median (50th percentile).
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
Reports Mentioning Death
678
2.3% of reports — not proof of cause
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 |
| 13 | NAUSEA | 997 |
| 14 | DIZZINESS | 839 |
| 15 | DIABETIC FOOT INFECTION | 834 |
| 16 | LEG AMPUTATION | 792 |
| 17 | DIABETIC FOOT | 788 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.
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?
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for canagliflozin?
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
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bromocriptine
Cycloset
Bromocriptine (Cycloset) is a medicine that acts like dopamine in your body.
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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 →
Compare beyond drug class
Nationwide peers by FAERS volume & death-report share
Two PlainMeds-derived comparison paths for canagliflozin: nearest FDA FAERS report volume and nearest death-report share among drugs with at least 1,000 logged reports, excluding same-class neighbors listed above. Counts reflect reporting volume, not proven individual harm.
Similar FAERS report volume
Nearest drugs by total FAERS reports. This record: 29,554.
Similar death-report share
Nearest drugs by FAERS death-report share. This record: 2.29%.
- liothyronine Δ 0.03 pts · 8,408 reports · Thyroid Hormone (T3) 2.32%death share
- progesterone Δ 0.03 pts · 21,004 reports · Progestogen Hormone 2.27%death share
- sumatriptan Δ 0.05 pts · 36,885 reports · Triptan (Serotonin 5-HT1 Agonist) 2.35%death share
- eluxadoline Δ 0.10 pts · 2,870 reports · Mu-Opioid Receptor Agonist (IBS-D) 2.20%death share
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
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Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
FDA bioequivalence and label-record context for narrow therapeutic index medicines
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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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 29,554 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 are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.
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. This registry does not provide medication decisions.
Last updated: October 24, 2023
PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.
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