Key Facts
- Drug Class
- SGLT2 inhibitor
- Prescription
- Required
- NAFDAC Status
- NAFDAC Registered
- Forms
- Tablet
- Online price
- ~₦18,900see prices
What is Dapagliflozin?
Dapagliflozin, sold mainly as Forxiga, is one of the SGLT2 inhibitors — a modern class of medicines that has changed how type-2 diabetes, heart failure, and kidney disease are managed. It started as a diabetes drug but is now prescribed even to some people without diabetes, because of the way it protects the heart and kidneys. It is taken as a once-daily tablet and is increasingly used in Nigeria alongside older drugs like metformin.
Dapagliflozin works in an unusual way: it makes the kidneys pass extra glucose (sugar) out in the urine, which lowers blood sugar without relying on insulin. That same action removes some salt and water, gently lowering blood pressure and easing the workload on a struggling heart, and it appears to protect the kidneys over time. These heart- and kidney-protective effects are why it is now used in heart failure and chronic kidney disease, not just diabetes.
Because it works through the urine, dapagliflozin causes more frequent urination and a higher chance of genital or urinary infections, especially thrush, so good hygiene and staying hydrated matter. It rarely causes low blood sugar on its own, but the dose of insulin or a sulfonylurea may need lowering when it is added. It is a prescription medicine that should be started and monitored by a doctor. Genuine packs carry a NAFDAC registration number.
What is Dapagliflozin used for?
In Nigeria, Dapagliflozin is commonly used for:
- Type-2 diabetes — improving blood sugar control, usually added to metformin or other drugs
- Heart failure (with reduced or preserved pumping function) — reducing symptoms and hospital admissions
- Chronic kidney disease — slowing the loss of kidney function, including in some people without diabetes
- Modest help with blood pressure and weight alongside its main effects
Dosage
IMPORTANT
Always follow your doctor's or pharmacist's instructions. The information below is for general reference only.
Adults
The usual dose is 10mg once daily, taken at the same time each day with or without food; a 5mg dose is sometimes used. It can be taken in the morning and does not need to be timed around meals. Your doctor sets the dose based on what is being treated and your kidney function.
Children
Not routinely used in children in Nigeria; any use is specialist-led.
Elderly
Can be used in older adults, with attention to hydration and blood pressure, as the fluid-losing effect can cause dizziness on standing.
Drink enough fluids and keep the genital area clean and dry to reduce the risk of infections. If you become acutely unwell, are unable to eat or drink, or are having surgery, your doctor may advise pausing dapagliflozin temporarily (a 'sick-day rule') because of a rare risk of ketoacidosis. Do not stop a heart-failure or kidney indication on your own. Report unusual thirst, deep breathing, drowsiness, or a fruity breath smell urgently.
Side Effects
Common side effects
- •Passing urine more often, and a higher chance of genital thrush or urinary infections
- •Increased thirst
- •Dizziness or light-headedness, especially on standing (from fluid loss)
- •A small amount of weight loss
- •Back pain
Serious side effects — seek medical help immediately
- Diabetic ketoacidosis — even with near-normal blood sugar (euglycaemic DKA): nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, deep or rapid breathing, drowsiness, or a fruity breath smell — seek urgent care
- A serious genital infection (rare) with severe pain, swelling, redness, and fever around the genitals or between the genitals and anus (Fournier's gangrene) — a medical emergency
- Signs of significant dehydration or a sharp drop in blood pressure
- Low blood sugar if combined with insulin or a sulfonylurea
When to see a doctor
Seek urgent care for symptoms of ketoacidosis (even if your sugar is not high), or for severe genital pain, swelling, and fever. Contact your doctor about repeated urinary or genital infections, marked dizziness, or if you are unwell and cannot keep fluids down. Tell any doctor treating you that you take dapagliflozin, especially before surgery.
Warnings & Precautions
Do not take Dapagliflozin if you have:
- Do not use in type-1 diabetes (higher risk of ketoacidosis)
- Use cautiously in people prone to dehydration, or with very low blood pressure
- Pause during serious acute illness, before major surgery, or when unable to eat/drink normally (sick-day rule)
- Do not use if you are allergic to dapagliflozin
- Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding
Drug interactions
- •Diuretics (water tablets): combined fluid loss can cause dehydration and low blood pressure
- •Insulin and sulfonylureas (e.g. glibenclamide): the dose may need lowering to avoid low blood sugar
- •Blood-pressure medicines: added lowering effect — watch for dizziness
- •It has relatively few interactions with most other everyday medicines
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Dapagliflozin is not recommended in pregnancy, particularly the second and third trimesters, and should be stopped when pregnancy is planned or confirmed and switched to a safer option such as insulin. It should also be avoided while breastfeeding. Discuss alternatives with your doctor if you could become pregnant.
Brands of Dapagliflozin in Nigeria
The NAFDAC registry holds 6 Dapagliflozin products from 3 manufacturers, including combination products and older listings whose status you can check in the full list. Below are some of the most common brands — see the full, searchable list for all of them.
| Brand Name | Manufacturer | Strength | Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forxiga | AstraZeneca | 5mg, 10mg | Tablet |
| Dapagliflozin | Various generic manufacturers | 10mg | Tablet |
How to Verify Your Dapagliflozin is Genuine
- 1Check the NAFDAC registration number on the pack and verify it on the NAFDAC Green Book or app
- 2Buy from a licensed pharmacy, and get it on the recommendation of a doctor who monitors your kidney function
- 3Check the expiry date and that the blister and carton are sealed and untampered
- 4Genuine tablets should be uniform in size, shape, and colour; discard any that look irregular
- 5For Forxiga (AstraZeneca), check the manufacturer branding and batch number; for generics, confirm the manufacturer
- 6Be cautious of unusually cheap 'Forxiga' from unverified online or social-media sellers
Dapagliflozin Price in Nigeria
As of July 2026, Dapagliflozin sells for about ₦18,900 online in Nigeria (₦17,500–₦38,100) across MedPlus. Open-market prices (e.g. Idumota, Ogbogwu) are often lower.
Online retail (sampled)
MedPlus₦17,500 – ₦38,100median ₦18,900
From 3 listings across MedPlus — brands and pack sizes vary · updated July 2026.
Price trend
We've tracked Dapagliflozin online prices since July 2026 — median ₦18,900 (range ₦17,500–₦38,100, from 3 listings). This updates monthly, and the month-on-month trend will appear here — see the Nigerian Medicine Price Index for prices across all tracked drugs.
Where to Buy
Purchase Dapagliflozin only from licensed pharmacies and verified distributors. Avoid buying medicines from unverified sources, roadside vendors, or unregistered market stalls.
Before you buy, verify the product's NAFDAC registration and check the current online prices above so you know a fair price before you pay.
Buying Dapagliflozin in bulk or for resale? Our guide on how to buy medicines in bulk in Nigeria safely covers verifying a supplier and spotting fakes before a large order.
Need Dapagliflozin in bulk, or can't find it near you?
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Related Resources for Dapagliflozin
Guides, articles, and tools related to Dapagliflozin and other diabetes medicines in Nigeria.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
- •NAFDAC Greenbook — the official database of all products registered with Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control. Brand-level NAFDAC numbers for Dapagliflozin on this page were cross-referenced against the Greenbook.
- •British National Formulary (BNF) dosing and interaction guidance for Dapagliflozin.
- •Nigerian Standard Treatment Guidelines (Federal Ministry of Health).