The drug company Johnson & Johnson will be selling the new diabetes drug INVOKANA.  This new diabetic treatment will be different, because it will cause the blood sugar to be excreted in the urine while other diabetic drugs focus on insulin use.

Invokana is a drug (by prescription only) that is designed to lower blood glucose levels in adults (over the age of 18) that have been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.  This drug is most effective when combined with daily exercise and a diabetic approved diet plan.  This new drug is not recommended to be effective on individuals that have Type 1 Diabetes.

Dosing

Dosing will be determined by your health care professional.  Invokana is a once a day oral prescription medicine that is usually advised to be taken about the same time every day (preferably on an empty stomach and before your first meal of the day).

If you miss a dose, take it as quickly as possible, unless you are near your next regularly scheduled dosing time.  Never double up on your Invokana dosing.

Understand that your doctor may change the dosing at any time; but if your body experiences stress (such as a trauma due to an auto accident or a fever due to the flu or an infection) inform your medical professional right away, as adjustments to medications may be necessary under these extreme medical conditions.

As always, keep all medication (including Invokana) out the reach of animals and children.

Invokana should be keep at an even temperature of between 68 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit.

Ingredients

Canagliflozin is the active ingredient in the drug Invokana.  Other ingredients include: Cellulose, hydroxpropyl, magnesium stearate, lactose anhydrous.  Also polyvinyl alcohol, titanium dioxide and talc.

More than 10,000 diabetic patients helped with conduction clinical trials, and not only did the results show an overall improvement of glucose levels, but also lower blood pressure and weight loss was indicated as a positive side effects.

Many diabetic drugs on the market today causes weight gain, and a dangerous low blood sugar reading.  Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) has been limited in patients taking Invokana, than compared with other diabetic drugs (such as Amaryl)

Possible side effects associated with Invokana

1. Dehydration:  Symptoms of dehydration may include, but may not be limited to, feeling of overall weakness, dizziness and lightheadedness.  Your risk of dehydration increases if you are following a low salt diet plan; have medical issues with your kidney functions, and/or you are over the age of sixty-five.
2. Yeast Infections.  Women may get multiple UTIs (urinary tract infections) or vaginal yeast infection while taking Invokana.  Symptoms can include vaginal odor and itching.  Menare also susceptible to yeast infections around the penis area.  Symptoms may include swelling; redness, itching rash; and pain.
3. Hyperkalemia (excessive amounts of potassium in the blood stream).  Sometimes Hyperkalemia does not show any negative symptoms, but some individuals may feel nausea, tingling sensations and muscle weakness.  A more serious symptom is a slowed heart rate and weakened pulse.

The FDA (Food and Drug Administration of the United States) has recently approved this new drug, INVOKANA™ (canagliflozin), for the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes.