The maximum dosage of Farxiga (dapagliflozin) is 10 mg once daily. This ceiling applies across every condition the drug is approved to treat, including type 2 diabetes, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease. Farxiga comes in only two tablet strengths, 5 mg and 10 mg, and there is no circumstance in which a higher dose is recommended.
How Dosing Differs by Condition
The reason you start on Farxiga and the dose you begin with depend on what it’s being prescribed for. For blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes, the starting dose is 5 mg once daily. If your blood sugar levels need further improvement, the dose can be increased to 10 mg once daily.
For all other approved uses, including reducing the risk of hospitalization for heart failure and slowing the progression of chronic kidney disease, the recommended dose is 10 mg once daily from the start. There is no gradual titration for these conditions.
Why There’s No Higher Dose
Farxiga works by blocking a protein in the kidneys that normally reabsorbs sugar back into the bloodstream. By disabling that protein, the drug causes excess sugar to leave the body through urine. The 10 mg dose is enough to block this protein near its maximum capacity, so taking more wouldn’t produce meaningful additional benefit. It would, however, increase the risk of side effects like dehydration, urinary tract infections, and drops in blood pressure.
What to Do if You Miss a Dose
If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it’s already close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed one and return to your regular schedule. Do not take two tablets to make up for a missed dose. Doubling up increases the risk of side effects, particularly low blood pressure and dehydration, without providing extra therapeutic benefit.
Signs of Taking Too Much
Because the maximum approved dose is only 10 mg, accidental overdose is uncommon but possible, especially in households where multiple medications are stored together. If you suspect an overdose, contact poison control at 1-800-222-1222. If someone has collapsed, is having a seizure, or has difficulty breathing, call 911 immediately.
Factors That May Affect Your Dose
Kidney function plays a role in how well Farxiga works, particularly for blood sugar control. The drug’s ability to lower glucose depends on the kidneys filtering normally, so people with significantly reduced kidney function may not see the same blood sugar benefits. However, Farxiga can still be prescribed at 10 mg for its heart and kidney protective effects even when kidney function is lower.
No dose adjustment is required based on liver function or drug interactions. Unlike many medications, Farxiga does not have known interactions that require lowering the dose below its standard range. The choice between 5 mg and 10 mg is driven almost entirely by the condition being treated and how well you’re responding.