Before taking canagliflozin,
tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic (rash, hives, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat, or difficulty breathing) to canagliflozin, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in canagliflozin tablets. Ask your pharmacist or check the Medication Guide for a list of the ingredients.
tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors such as benazepril (Lotensin, in Lotrel), captopril, enalapril (Vasotec, in Vaseretic), fosinopril, lisinopril (in Zestoretic), moexipril (Univasc, in Uniretic), perindopril (Aceon, in Prestalia), quinapril (Accupril, in Accuretic, in Quinaretic), ramipril (Altace), and trandolapril (Mavik, in Tarka); angiotensin receptor blockers such as azilsartan (Edarbi, in Edarbyclor), candesartan (Atacand, in Atacand HCT), eprosartan (Teveten), irbesartan (Avapro, in Avalide), losartan (Cozaar, in Hyzaar), olmesartan (Benicar, in Azor, in Benicar HCT, in Tribenzor), telmisartan (Micardis, in Micardis HCT, in Twynsta), and valsartan (Diovan, in Diovan HCT, in Exforge); aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn); digoxin (Lanoxin); diuretics ('water pills'); phenobarbital; phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek); rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, in Rifamate, in Rifater); and ritonavir (Norvir, in Kaletra). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
tell your doctor if you are on dialysis and if you have or have ever had kidney disease. Your doctor may tell you not to take canagliflozin.
tell your doctor if you regularly drink alcohol or sometimes drink large amounts of alcohol in a short time (binge drinking), or are on a low sodium diet. Also, tell your doctor if you have or have ever had low blood pressure, urinary tract infections or urinary problems, pancreatic disease including pancreatitis (swelling of the pancreas) or have had surgery on your pancreas, yeast infections in the genital area, osteoporosis (a condition in which the bones become thin and weak and break easily), or liver disease. If you are male, tell your doctor if you have never been circumcised. Tell your doctor if you are eating less due to illness, surgery, or a change in your diet or if you are unable to eat or drink normally due to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or if you become dehydrated from being in the sun too long.
tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking canagliflozin, call your doctor.
if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking canagliflozin.
alcohol may cause a change in blood sugar. Ask your doctor about the safe use of alcoholic beverages while you are taking canagliflozin.
you should know that canagliflozin may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting when you get up too quickly from a lying position. If you have this problem, call your doctor. This problem is more common when you first start taking canagliflozin. To avoid this problem, get out of bed slowly, resting your feet on the floor for a few minutes before standing up.
ask your doctor what to do if you get sick, develop an infection or fever, experience unusual stress, or are injured. These conditions can affect your blood sugar and the amount of canagliflozin you may need.