What is the preferred initial treatment with Dapagliflozin (SGLT2 inhibitor) vs Farxiga (Dapagliflozin) for a patient with type 2 diabetes and a history of cardiovascular disease or kidney disease?

Dapagliflozin and Farxiga Are the Same Medication

Dapagliflozin and Farxiga are identical—Farxiga is simply the brand name for the generic drug dapagliflozin. 1, 2

Understanding the Nomenclature

• Dapagliflozin is the generic (chemical) name of the medication, while Farxiga is the brand name marketed by AstraZeneca in the United States 2
• The same medication is marketed as Forxiga in other countries outside the US 2
• Both names refer to the exact same SGLT2 inhibitor molecule with identical pharmacological properties, dosing, efficacy, and safety profile 1, 2

Clinical Implications

• There is no clinical difference between prescribing "dapagliflozin" versus "Farxiga"—they contain the same active ingredient at the same strength (10 mg for cardiovascular/renal protection, 5-10 mg for glycemic control) 3, 1
• The choice between generic and brand name is purely a matter of cost, insurance coverage, and availability—not clinical efficacy 1
• All clinical trials (DAPA-CKD, DAPA-HF, DECLARE-TIMI 58) used dapagliflozin/Farxiga, so the evidence base applies equally to both names 4, 5, 6

Prescribing Considerations

• When writing prescriptions, you can use either "dapagliflozin 10 mg" or "Farxiga 10 mg"—pharmacies will dispense the appropriate formulation based on insurance formulary preferences 1
• Generic dapagliflozin may be less expensive than brand-name Farxiga, but availability varies by region and insurance plan 1
• The FDA-approved indications, contraindications, and dosing recommendations are identical regardless of which name is used 1

Common Pitfall to Avoid

• Do not confuse dapagliflozin/Farxiga with other SGLT2 inhibitors such as empagliflozin (Jardiance) or canagliflozin (Invokana)—these are different medications with similar but not identical evidence profiles 4, 3