FDA alerts providers to safety concern with SGLT2 diabetes medications

The Food and Drug Administration Friday warned that the type 2 diabetes medicines canagliflozin, dapagliflozin and empagliflozin may lead to ketoacidosis, a serious condition that may require hospitalization. “We are continuing to investigate this safety issue and will determine whether changes are needed in the prescribing information for this class of drugs, called sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors,” FDA said. The agency advised health care professionals to evaluate patients who experience symptoms for the presence of acidosis and discontinue SGLT2 inhibitors if confirmed, among other actions. It also urged health care professionals and patients to report side effects involving SGLT2 inhibitors to the FDA MedWatch program.