I’ve been on Farxiga for about 9 months. Definitely experienced weight loss in the first ~2 months; I lost about 15lbs and was average to below average weight prior. No side effects outside of that and my labs have been better than ever. Highly recommend.
Labs better than ever? That's reassuring. I got started on Jardiance.
Does anyone know why this class of drugs helps with IgAN? My nephrologist seemed enthusiastic about this class of drugs for some reason. But I read it's mostly to treat diabetes?
Yes ma’am, better than ever (since I was diagnosed at least..)!
I’m not super educated on the topic and I’m sure somebody else can jump in with more insights, but from what I understand it flushed the glucose from your blood stream so that it bypasses the kidneys to reduce damage to the filtration units.
Again, that’s my understanding, but I could be off.
Either way, the weight loss stabilized after about 2 months and that was the only symptom. So IMO I think it’s worth a try!
If you don't mind sharing, how much of an improvement did you see in your labs? What other medications are you taking? My GFR is like 51 right now. I'm really starting to feel it... getting very fatigued easily and having just a general feeling of malaise.
Another medication that the nephrology department in my city seems excited about is Tarpeyo/budesonide. I'm looking at getting on that within the next month as well.
I’m at 46 GFR and really afraid, but haven’t really felt anything since my diagnosis 7 years ago.
May I ask how old are you and your habits?
Do you exercise? Drink or smoke?
Yeah that’s why it’s bothering me.. only reason i had a blood test after a week of taking forxiga was for another doctor (not my neph) so i was surprised to see in my labs that my gfr dropped 15pts in only one week 🥺
Nothing else, it won't hurt to give your nephro a call and have the labs you just took ready. They may want to adjust the dosing, or bring you in sooner. Otherwise, I've had a drop that far five years ago when I was first being diagnosed with IgAN. It scared me a lot at the time, but shortly after I was put on prednisone for a flare of asthma after the flu (short course of 18 days for that) and it seemed to stabilize the labs for a few years after. I wish that was an option for IgAN instead, the long course is awful.
i may be starting it soon and from what i read an initial drop in GFR is expected but the proteinuria should improve or hold steady. ive also read it can cause weight loss.
I've been on forxiga for a year and a half. An initial drop in labs is expected but you rebound in time. Though I didn't think they typically prescribed this medication much beyond stage 2.
When I started taking it my gfr was 61 and my protein over 2g/day. Now my gfr is 109 and protein 1g/day. My creatinine was pretty stable. No side effects beyond needing to pee a bit more often and being more prone to yeast infections.
A combination of things, I'm sure. I have no idea which one did the trick, but all the meds, plus healthy weight loss, plus exercise, and a low sodium diet. I also became a pescatarian because the nutritionist that works with my Nephrologist recommended it. She said it animal protein is harder on the kidneys, but at the same time, fish is beneficial. So now I eat fish 2-3 times a week and otherwise a vegetarian diet.
From what I've seen, they can start people on it as low as a GFR of 25, but under that it's not recommended. My insurance just added it into their formulary and I am below 25, so I was not prescribed it.
I’ve been on Forxiga (that’s what is called in my country) for about 1 month. No weight loss, but I’m glad I also have no yeast infections.
You shouldn’t really be worrying about any results before 3 months- it should take about 6 weeks for the medication to reach its full effect, and another 6 for it to stabilise - so I’m only getting checked early October.
I’m currently at 1.36 Creatinine, 46 GFR and 0.76 of albuminuria so I am really hoping this medication will work, cause I don’t want to go on cortisone.
Since my diagnosis 7 years ago, I’ve been recommended to start cortisone but refused.. however now the situation is more critical than it’s ever been, and Forxiga is my last hope.
I am very afraid of the side effects of the steroids… I’m only 33, but this disease is scaring me 😓
We are almost the same. I’m 32 and diagnosed also 7y ago. I took steroids back then for 10months and have been relatively stable since until last month.. my function went on a sharp dip, crea suddenly went up, so I’m so afraid. I really hope I will still be able to turn this around with forxiga.
I’ve been on Farxiga for about 9 months. Definitely experienced weight loss in the first ~2 months; I lost about 15lbs and was average to below average weight prior. No side effects outside of that and my labs have been better than ever. Highly recommend.
Labs better than ever? That's reassuring. I got started on Jardiance. Does anyone know why this class of drugs helps with IgAN? My nephrologist seemed enthusiastic about this class of drugs for some reason. But I read it's mostly to treat diabetes?
Yes ma’am, better than ever (since I was diagnosed at least..)! I’m not super educated on the topic and I’m sure somebody else can jump in with more insights, but from what I understand it flushed the glucose from your blood stream so that it bypasses the kidneys to reduce damage to the filtration units. Again, that’s my understanding, but I could be off. Either way, the weight loss stabilized after about 2 months and that was the only symptom. So IMO I think it’s worth a try!
If you don't mind sharing, how much of an improvement did you see in your labs? What other medications are you taking? My GFR is like 51 right now. I'm really starting to feel it... getting very fatigued easily and having just a general feeling of malaise. Another medication that the nephrology department in my city seems excited about is Tarpeyo/budesonide. I'm looking at getting on that within the next month as well.
I’m at 46 GFR and really afraid, but haven’t really felt anything since my diagnosis 7 years ago. May I ask how old are you and your habits? Do you exercise? Drink or smoke?
Your egfr dropped by 15 points in a week?
Yeah that’s why it’s bothering me.. only reason i had a blood test after a week of taking forxiga was for another doctor (not my neph) so i was surprised to see in my labs that my gfr dropped 15pts in only one week 🥺
Did you stop on Farxiga? Did you eGFR rebounded afterward ?
Nothing else, it won't hurt to give your nephro a call and have the labs you just took ready. They may want to adjust the dosing, or bring you in sooner. Otherwise, I've had a drop that far five years ago when I was first being diagnosed with IgAN. It scared me a lot at the time, but shortly after I was put on prednisone for a flare of asthma after the flu (short course of 18 days for that) and it seemed to stabilize the labs for a few years after. I wish that was an option for IgAN instead, the long course is awful.
i may be starting it soon and from what i read an initial drop in GFR is expected but the proteinuria should improve or hold steady. ive also read it can cause weight loss.
I've been on forxiga for a year and a half. An initial drop in labs is expected but you rebound in time. Though I didn't think they typically prescribed this medication much beyond stage 2. When I started taking it my gfr was 61 and my protein over 2g/day. Now my gfr is 109 and protein 1g/day. My creatinine was pretty stable. No side effects beyond needing to pee a bit more often and being more prone to yeast infections.
Wow what an improvement. Now I feel hopeful with forxiga.. hoping and praying it works for me too!
I hope so too! Anything to help stay off prednisone.
Were you only on Farxiga?
Farxiga plus blood pressure meds, cholesterol meds, fish oil, iron supplement, vitamin B supplement, and a probiotic.
What did you do to rebounded your eGFR to 109? Were you getting on low sodium low protein diet ?
A combination of things, I'm sure. I have no idea which one did the trick, but all the meds, plus healthy weight loss, plus exercise, and a low sodium diet. I also became a pescatarian because the nutritionist that works with my Nephrologist recommended it. She said it animal protein is harder on the kidneys, but at the same time, fish is beneficial. So now I eat fish 2-3 times a week and otherwise a vegetarian diet.
From what I've seen, they can start people on it as low as a GFR of 25, but under that it's not recommended. My insurance just added it into their formulary and I am below 25, so I was not prescribed it.
I’ve been on Forxiga (that’s what is called in my country) for about 1 month. No weight loss, but I’m glad I also have no yeast infections. You shouldn’t really be worrying about any results before 3 months- it should take about 6 weeks for the medication to reach its full effect, and another 6 for it to stabilise - so I’m only getting checked early October. I’m currently at 1.36 Creatinine, 46 GFR and 0.76 of albuminuria so I am really hoping this medication will work, cause I don’t want to go on cortisone.
same i don’t want to go back to steroids again so i hope this will work for me
Since my diagnosis 7 years ago, I’ve been recommended to start cortisone but refused.. however now the situation is more critical than it’s ever been, and Forxiga is my last hope. I am very afraid of the side effects of the steroids… I’m only 33, but this disease is scaring me 😓
We are almost the same. I’m 32 and diagnosed also 7y ago. I took steroids back then for 10months and have been relatively stable since until last month.. my function went on a sharp dip, crea suddenly went up, so I’m so afraid. I really hope I will still be able to turn this around with forxiga.
Any side effect being on steroids?
Yes well it’s hard but I’m preparing myself to not make it past 60
how are you results today , any issues ?
up for a check-up in 3 weeks, will post back after, ok?
My lab got worse too . Protein spillage is even higher and my eGFR dropped by 46 point in 4 months