Invokana®

What is Invokana?

Invokana is a tablet treatment for type-2 diabetes that works to lower your blood glucose levels. It belongs to a class of medicines called SGLT2 inhibitors, which work by increasing the amount of sugar and sodium that you excrete through your urine. It’s suggested that this mode of action can also improve your kidneys’ health, as well as lower your risk of developing heart problems.¹

It can either be taken on its own or, more commonly, in combination with other treatments to try to lower your blood sugar – usually when diet and exercise alone hasn’t been enough and when other treatments haven’t been fully effective.

How does Invokana work?

Type-2 diabetes is a condition that’s typically developed in adulthood, which leads to high concentrations of glucose in the bloodstream. This typically either happens either because your pancreas no longer secretes the amount of insulin that it should do, or because your cells have lost sensitivity to insulin. Insulin is an essential hormone for how your body processes the sugar that you eat.

Invokana belongs to a category of medicine that doesn’t affect either your insulin production or your cells’ sensitivity to insulin. Instead, Invokana’s active ingredient blocks the action of the hormone ‘SGLT-2’, which is responsible for the reabsorption of sugar and sodium from your kidney. This means that more glucose than normal is excreted when you urinate, leading to lower concentrations of glucose in your blood.

What doses of Invokana are there?

Invokana is available in two different doses: 100mg and 300mg. The dose that you’ll be prescribed will depend on your condition and your health.

How to take Invokana

You should always take Invokana exactly as prescribed by our clinician.

To take Invokana, simply swallow the tablet whole with water. The starting dose is usually to take one 100mg tablet, once a day, which might be increased to 300mg if it’s suitable.

You can take your tablet with or without food, but it’s best to take it before your first meal of the day. You might also find it easier to remember to take it if you take it at the same time each day.

How long does it take Invokana to work?

Your blood sugar should start to reduce after taking Invokana for a few weeks, but because you might not get any symptoms from your diabetes, it’s likely that you won’t feel much different. This doesn’t mean that the treatment isn’t working, though.

Your HbA1c (the test of your average blood sugar levels over the last 2-3 months) will be periodically measured during your treatment. If it doesn’t improve you might be prescribed a different or additional treatment.

What should I do if I make a mistake when taking Invokana?

If you take more Invokana than you should’ve done, you should seek medical help straight away.

If you forget your dose of Invokana, take it as soon as you remember – as long as it’s not too close to your next dose. If it is, skip that dose and carry on as normal. Don’t double doses to make up for forgotten ones.