Effectiveness of Invokamet: It’s Dosage & Side Effects

How Effective is Invokamet?

Invokamet is effectively used in adult patients with type 2 diabetes with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control.

Invokamet is a drug formed by the combination of metformin and canagliflozin, this combination of drugs are oral and used for diabetes as they help control blood levels.
For its part Canagliflozin helps the kidneys to get rid of glucose from the bloodstream while the metformin reduces the production of glucose in the liver in addition to making your intestines absorb lower amounts of glucose.

It is important to know that you should not use Invokamet if you have severe kidney disease, dialysis or diabetic ketoacidosis. The use of invokamet may cause a serious illness called lactic acidosis.

How Effective is Invokamet?

The development of lactic acidosis disease by taking invokamet usually occurs most likely to happen if you have kidney or liver disease, a severe infection, heart attack or stroke. Also if you are dehydrated or if you drink a lot of alcohol, you should talk to your doctor about the risks. You should go to a doctor immediately if you have:

  • Muscle aches or weakness
  • Feeling cold in arms & legs
  • Nausea
  • Stomach ache
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Nausea along with vomiting.
  • Irregular or slow heart rhythm
  • Feeling tired or dizziness.

Before taking Invokamet you should take into account:

  • If one is allergic to metformin (Avandamet, Glucophage) or canagliflozin (Invokana)
  • If you have moderate or severe kidney disease
  • If you have diabetic ketoacidosis

In addition if one needs a CT scan or X ray in which you have to inject some dye into the veins you must stop the treatment with invokamet. To confirm that Invokamet is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

  • kidney or liver disease
  • Bladder infections or other urinary problems
  • Congestive heart failure (CHF), Heart disease
  • Problems with blood circulation
  • Nervous problems caused by diabetes
  • Pancreas surgery or disorder
  • An ulcer or amputation of the diabetic foot
  • An electrolyte imbalance (like higher levels of potassium in the blood)
  • If you are on a low salt dietary regimen.

You should also take into account that the use of Invokamet during pregnancy can harm the unborn baby more than everything during the second or third trimester so you should always inform the physician if you are carrying or if you become pregnant during Invokamet

In addition there have been cases of women who take Invokamet begin to have menstrual periods after a long time without having it due to some medical condition so there is a possibility of getting pregnant so it is recommended to talk to your doctor to have birth control .

There are no proven studies on whether canagliflozine and metformin in invokamet can harm the baby or pass into mother’s milk so it is recommended not to breastfeed while using Invokamet and this medication is not approved for use in persons under the age of 18 years.

What is the Suggested Dosage of Invokamet?

Usual Invokamet Dosage for Type 2 Diabetes:

  • Initial dose: Individual dose based on current patient regimen:
  • In patients who are not currently on canagliflozine or metformin: Initial dosage: canagliflozin 50 mg-metformin 500 mg orally twice daily.
  • Patients who already take metformin: canagliflozin 50 mg plus must have half of the day’s dosage of metformin orally twice daily.
  • Patients who already take canagliflozine: mean daily dosage of canagliflozine plus metformin 500 mg orally twice daily.
  • Patients who already taken Invokamet previously: Change to canagliflozine-metformin at the same total daily dosage of each component divided orally twice daily.
  • Invokamet is adjusted based on efficacy and tolerability; A gradual escalation of metformin dosage will help reduce gastrointestinal side effects.
  • Maximum dosage of Invokamet: Canagliflozine 300 mg and metformin 2000 mg daily.

To avoid the risk of hypoglycemia when invokamet is used in conjunction with insulin secretagogue or insulin, a lower dose of insulin or secretagogue is given.

What are the Side Effects of Invokamet?

Invokamet can produce an allergic reaction so if you have symptoms such as: Difficult breathing; Swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat should be treated immediately by a physician.

Get immediate help from the physician if you have signs of lactic acidosis such as weakness or muscle pain, numbness, stomach pain, nausea with vomiting, trouble breathing, chill feeling in the legs & arms, Slow or irregular heartbeat, dizziness or a feeling of weakness or tiredness. See a doctor immediately as the first symptoms of lactic acidosis may worsen over time and this condition can be fatal.

Call your doctor right away if you have:

  • New pain, tenderness, sores, ulcers or leg or foot infections caused after using invokamet
  • A feeling of light, as if he might faint
  • Higher levels of potassium – slower heart rate, weak pulse, muscle weakness, tingly feeling
  • Ketoacidosis (acid increase in the blood) – unusual drowsiness, nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, trouble breathing and confusion
  • Symptoms of kidney ailment – painful or difficult urination, little or no urination, short of breath, feeling tired or swelling in your feet or ankles
  • Symptoms of a bladder infection -pain in pelvis or back, urine that looks cloudy, pain or burning when you urinate
  • Symptoms of a genital infection (vagina or penis) – itching, pain, redness, burning, odor, or discharge, rashes

There is the possibility of having bone fractures (even if a minor impact traumatism occurs) while taking medicines containing canagliflozin. So you should talk to your doctor about how to avoid the risk of fractures.

Common side effects of Invokamet may include:

  • Frequent urination
  • Headache, weakness
  • Gas, stomach pain, indigestion are all the side effects of invokamet
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea, vomiting.
Team PainAssist
Team PainAssist
Written, Edited or Reviewed By: Team PainAssist, Pain Assist Inc. This article does not provide medical advice. See disclaimer
Last Modified On:June 5, 2019

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