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Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride 5 mg/1000 mg film-coated tablets – patient leaflet, side effects, dosage

Last updated: · Text from the MHRA, as of · About this document

Medicine status: Prescription only (POM) Details

Medicine strength:
5 mg/1000 mg
Contains active substances:

Patient leaflet - Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride 5 mg/1000 mg film-coated tablets

1. What Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride Film-coated Tablets are and what they are used for

This medicine contains two different substances called dapagliflozin and metformin. Both belong to a group of medicines called oral anti-diabetics. These are medicines taken by mouth for diabetes.

Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride Film-coated Tablets are used for a type of diabetes called “type 2 diabetes” in adult patients (aged 18 years and older) and usually occurs when you are older. If you have type 2 diabetes, your pancreas does not make enough insulin or your body is not able to use the insulin it produces properly. This leads to a high level of sugar (glucose) in your blood.

  • Dapagliflozin works by removing excess sugar from your body via

    your urine and lowers the amount of sugar in your blood. It can also help prevent heart disease.

  • Metformin works mainly by inhibiting glucose production in the

    liver.

To treat diabetes:

  • This medicine is taken in combination with diet and exercise.
  • This medicine is used if your diabetes cannot be controlled with

    other medicines used to treat diabetes.

  • Your doctor may ask you to take this medicine on its own or

    together with other medicines to treat diabetes. This may be another medicine taken by mouth and/or a medicine given by injection, such as insulin or a GLP-1 receptor agonist (helps your body to increase the production of insulin when your blood sugar is high).

  • If you are already taking both dapagliflozin and metformin as single

    tablets, your doctor may ask you to switch to this medicine. To avoid overdose, do not continue taking dapagliflozin and metformin tablets, if you are taking Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride Film-coated Tablets.

It is important to continue to follow the advice on diet and exercise given to you by your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.

2. What you need to know before you take Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride Film-coated Tablets

Do not take Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride Film-coated Tablets

  • if you are allergic to dapagliflozin, metformin or any of the other

    ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).

  • if you have ever had a diabetic coma.
  • if you have uncontrolled diabetes, with, for example severe

    hyperglycaemia (high blood glucose), nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, rapid weight loss, lactic acidosis (see “Risk of lactic acidosis” below) or ketoacidosis. Ketoacidosis is a condition in which substances called ‘ketone bodies’ accumulate in the blood and which can lead to a diabetic pre-coma. Symptoms include stomach pain, fast and deep breathing, sleepiness or your breath developing an unusual fruity smell.

  • if you have severely reduced kidney function.
  • if you have a severe infection.
  • if you have lost a lot of water from your body (dehydration), e.g.

    due to long-lasting or severe diarrhoea, or if you have vomited several times in a row.

  • if you have recently had a heart attack or if you have heart failure

    or serious problems with your blood circulation or difficulties in breathing.

  • if you have problems with your liver.
  • if you drink large amounts of alcohol, either every day or only from

    time to time (please see section “Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride Film-coated Tablets with alcohol”).

Do not take this medicine if any of the above apply to you.

Warnings and precautions

Risk of lactic acidosis

Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride Film-coated Tablets may cause a very rare, but very serious side effect called lactic acidosis, particularly if your kidneys are not working properly. The risk of developing lactic acidosis is also increased with uncontrolled diabetes, serious infections, prolonged fasting or alcohol intake, dehydration (see further information below), liver problems and any medical conditions in which a part of the body has a reduced supply of oxygen (such as acute severe heart disease).

If any of the above apply to you, talk to your doctor for further instructions.

Stop taking Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride Film-coated Tablets for a short time if you have a condition that may be associated with dehydration (significant loss of body fluids) such as severe vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, exposure to heat or if you drink less fluid than normal. Talk to your doctor for further instructions.

Stop taking Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride Film-coated Tablets and contact a doctor or the nearest hospital immediately if you experience some of the symptoms of lactic acidosis, as this condition may lead to coma.

Symptoms of lactic acidosis include:

  • vomiting
  • stomach ache (abdominal pain)
  • muscle cramps
  • a general feeling of not being well with severe tiredness
  • difficulty in breathing
  • reduced body temperature and heartbeat

Lactic acidosis is a medical emergency and must be treated in a hospital.

Talk to your doctor promptly for further instructions:

  • if you are known to suffer from a genetically inherited disease affecting

    mitochondria (the energy producing components within cells) such as MELAS syndrome (Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathy with Lactic acidosis, and Stroke-like episodes) or Maternally Inherited Diabetes and Deafness (MIDD).

    • if you have any of these symptoms after starting metformin:

      seizure, declined cognitive abilities, difficulty with body movements, symptoms indicating nerve damage (e.g. pain or numbness), migraine and deafness.

Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before taking Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride Film-coated Tablets, and during treatment:

  • if you have “type 1 diabetes” – the type that usually starts when you are young, and your body does not produce any insulin. Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride Film-coated Tablets should not be used to treat this condition.
  • if you experience rapid weight loss, feeling sick or being sick, stomach pain, excessive thirst, fast and deep breathing, confusion, unusual sleepiness or tiredness, a sweet smell to your breath, a sweet or metallic taste in your mouth, or a different odour to your urine or sweat, contact a doctor or the nearest hospital straight away. These symptoms could be a sign of “diabetic ketoacidosis”

    • a rare but serious, sometimes life-threatening problem you can get with diabetes because of increased levels of “ketone bodies” in your urine or blood, seen in tests. The risk of developing diabetic ketoacidosis may be increased with prolonged fasting, excessive alcohol consumption, dehydration, sudden reductions in insulin dose, or a higher need of insulin due to major surgery or serious illness.
  • if you have problems with your kidneys. Your doctor will check your kidney function.
  • if you have very high levels of glucose in your blood which may make you dehydrated (lose too much body fluid). Possible signs of dehydration are listed at the top of section 4. Tell your doctor before you start taking this medicine if you have any of these signs.
  • if you are taking medicines to lower blood pressure (anti-hypertensives) and have a history of low blood pressure (hypotension). More information is given below under ‘Other medicines and Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride Film-coated Tablets’.
  • if you often get infections of the urinary tract. This medicine may cause urinary tract infections and your doctor may want to monitor you more closely. Your doctor may consider temporarily changing your treatment if you develop a serious infection.

If you need to have major surgery, you must stop taking Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride Film-coated Tablets during and for some time after the procedure. Your doctor will decide when you must stop and when to restart your treatment with Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride Film-coated Tablets.

It is important to check your feet regularly and adhere to any other advice regarding foot care given by your health care professional. If any of the above applies to you (or you are not sure), talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before taking this medicine.

Talk to your doctor immediately if you develop a combination of symptoms of pain, tenderness, redness, or swelling of the genitals or the area between the genitals and the anus with fever or feeling generally unwell. These symptoms could be a sign of a rare but serious or even life-threatening infection, called necrotising fasciitis of the perineum or Fournier’s gangrene which destroys the tissue under the skin. Fournier’s gangrene has to be treated immediately.

Kidney function

During treatment with Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride Film-coated Tablets, your doctor will check your kidney function at least once every year or more frequently if you are elderly and/or if you have worsening kidney function.

Urine glucose

Because of how this medicine works, your urine will test positive for sugar while you are on this medicine.

Children and adolescents

This medicine is not recommended for children and adolescents under 18 years of age, because it has not been studied in these patients.

Other medicines and Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride Film-coated Tablets

If you need to have an injection of a contrast medium that contains iodine into your bloodstream, for example in the context of an X-ray or scan, you must stop taking Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride Film-coated Tablets before or at the time of the injection. Your doctor will decide when you must stop and when to restart your treatment with Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride Film-coated Tablets.

Tell your doctor if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. You may need more frequent blood glucose and kidney function tests, or your doctor may adjust the dosage of Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride Film-coated Tablets. It is especially important to mention the following:

  • if you are taking medicines which increase urine production

    (diuretics). Your doctor may ask you to stop taking this medicine. Possible signs of losing too much fluid from your body are listed at the top of section 4.

  • if you are taking other medicines that lower the amount of sugar in your blood such as insulin or a “sulphonylurea” medicine. Your doctor may want to lower the dose of these other medicines, to prevent you from getting blood sugar levels that are too low (hypoglycaemia).
  • if you are taking cimetidine, a medicine used to treat stomach problems.
  • if you are using bronchodilators (beta-2 agonists) which are used to treat asthma.
  • if you are using corticosteroids (used to treat inflammation in diseases like asthma and arthritis) that are given by mouth, as an injection, or inhaled.
  • if you are using medicines used to treat pain and inflammation

    (NSAID and COX-2-inhibitors, such as ibuprofen and celecoxib).

  • if you are using certain medicines for the treatment of high blood pressure (ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor antagonists).

Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride Film-coated Tablets with alcohol

Avoid excessive alcohol intake while taking Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride Film-coated Tablets since this may increase the risk of lactic acidosis (see “Warnings and precautions”).

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine. You should stop taking this medicine if you become pregnant, since it is not recommended during the second and third trimesters (the last six months) of pregnancy. Talk to your doctor about the best way to control your blood sugar while you are pregnant.

Talk to your doctor if you would like to or are breast-feeding before taking this medicine. You should not use this medicine if you are breast-feeding. Metformin passes into human milk in small amounts. It is not known if dapagliflozin passes into human breast milk.

Driving and using machines

This medicine has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines. Taking it with other medicines that lower the amount of sugar in your blood, such as insulin or a “sulphonylurea” medicine, can cause too low blood sugar levels (hypoglycaemia), which may cause symptoms such as weakness, dizziness, increased sweating, fast heart beat, change in vision or difficulties concentrating, and may affect your ability to drive and use machines. Do not drive or use any tools or machines, if you start to feel these symptoms.

Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride Film-coated Tablets contain lactose monohydrate

This medicine contains lactose monohydrate. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.

Version: 04

Date & Time: 04.05.2026 & 11.00 AM Submission Code: N16492_u15f

Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride Film-coated Tablets contain sodium

This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per tablet, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.

3. How to take Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride Film-coated Tablets

Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

How much to take

  • The amount of this medicine that you will take varies

    depending on your condition and the doses you currently take of metformin and/or individual tablets of dapagliflozin and metformin. Your doctor will tell you exactly which strength of this medicine to take.

  • The recommended dose is one tablet twice a day.

Taking this medicine

  • Swallow the tablet whole with half a glass of water.
  • Take your tablet with food. This is to reduce the risk of side effects

    in the stomach.

  • Take your tablet twice daily, once in the morning (breakfast) and

    once in the evening (dinner). Your doctor may prescribe this medicine together with other medicine(s) to lower the amount of sugar in your blood. These may be medicine(s) by mouth or given by injection, such as insulin or a GLP-1 receptor agonist. Remember to take these other medicine(s) as your doctor has told you. This will help get the best results for your health.

Diet and exercise

To control your diabetes, you still need to keep to diet and exercise, even when you are taking this medicine. So it is important to keep following the advice about diet and exercise from your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. In particular, if you are following a diabetic weight control diet, continue to follow it while you are taking this medicine.

If you take more Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride Film-coated Tablets than you should

If you take more Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride Film-coated Tablets than you should, you may experience lactic acidosis. Symptoms of lactic acidosis include feeling or being very sick, vomiting, stomach ache, muscular cramps, severe tiredness or difficulty breathing. If this happens to you, you may need immediate hospital treatment, as lactic acidosis may lead to coma. Stop taking this medicine immediately and contact a doctor or the nearest hospital straight away (see section 2). Take the medicine pack with you.

If you forget to take Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride Film-coated Tablets

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If you do not remember until it is time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule. Do not take a double dose of this medicine to make up for a forgotten dose.

If you stop taking Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride Film-coated Tablets

Do not stop taking this medicine without talking to your doctor first. Your blood sugar may increase without this medicine. If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.

4. Possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Stop taking Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride Film-coated Tablets and see a doctor straight away if you notice any of the following serious or potentially serious side effects:

  • Lactic acidosis, seen very rarely (may affect up to 1 in 10,000

    people)

Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride Film-coated Tablets may cause a very rare, but very serious side effect called lactic acidosis (see section “Warnings and precautions”). If this happens you must stop taking Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride Film-coated Tablets and contact a doctor or the nearest hospital immediately, as lactic acidosis may lead to coma.

Contact a doctor or the nearest hospital straight away if you have any of the following side effects:

  • Diabetic ketoacidosis, seen rarely (may affect up to 1 in 1,000

    people) These are the signs of diabetic ketoacidosis (see also section 2 Warnings and precautions):

    • increased levels of “ketone bodies” in your urine or blood
    • rapid weight loss
    • feeling sick or being sick
    • stomach pain
    • excessive thirst
    • fast and deep breathing
    • confusion
    • unusual sleepiness or tiredness
    • a sweet smell to your breath, a sweet or metallic taste in your

      mouth or a different odour to your urine or sweat. This may occur regardless of blood glucose level. Your doctor may decide to temporarily or permanently stop your treatment with Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride Film-coated Tablets.

  • Necrotising fasciitis of the perineum or Fournier’s gangrene, a

    serious soft tissue infection of the genitals or the area between the genitals and the anus, seen very rarely.

Stop taking Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride Film-coated Tablets and see a doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following serious or potentially serious effects:

  • Dehydration: loss of too much fluid from your body, seen

    uncommonly (may affect up to 1 in 100 people).

These are signs of dehydration:

  • very dry or sticky mouth, feeling very thirsty
  • feeling very sleepy or tired
  • passing little or no water (urine)
  • fast heartbeat.
  • Urinary tract infection, seen commonly (may affect up to 1 in 10 people).

These are signs of a severe infection of the urinary tract:

  • fever and/or chills
  • burning sensation when passing water (urinating)
  • pain in your back or side.

Although uncommon, if you see blood in your urine, tell your doctor immediately.

Contact your doctor as soon as possible if you have any of the following side effects:

  • Low blood sugar levels (hypoglycaemia), seen very commonly

    (may affect more than 1 in 10 people) - when taking this medicine with a sulphonylurea or other medicines that lower the amount of sugar in your blood, such as insulin.

These are the signs of low blood sugar:

  • shaking, sweating, feeling very anxious, fast heart beat
  • feeling hungry, headache, change in vision
  • a change in your mood or feeling confused.

Your doctor will tell you how to treat low blood sugar levels and what to do if you get any of the signs above. If you have symptoms of low blood sugar, eat glucose tablets, a high sugar snack or drink fruit juice. Measure your blood sugar if possible and rest.

Other side effects include:

Very common

  • nausea, vomiting
  • diarrhoea or stomach ache
  • loss of appetite

    Common

    • genital infection (thrush) of your penis or vagina (signs may include irritation, itching, unusual discharge or odour)
    • back pain
    • discomfort when passing water (urine), passing more water than usual or needing to pass water more often
    • changes in the amount of cholesterol or fats in your blood (shown in tests)
    • increases in the amount of red blood cells in your blood (shown in tests)
    • decreases in creatinine renal clearance (shown in tests) in the beginning of treatment
    • changes in taste
    • dizziness
    • rash
    • decreased or low vitamin B12 levels in the blood (symptoms may include extreme tiredness (fatigue), a sore and red tongue (glossitis), pins and needles (paraesthesia) or pale or yellow skin). Your doctor may arrange some tests to find out the cause of your symptoms because some of these may also be caused by diabetes or due to other unrelated health problems.

Uncommon

  • thirst
  • constipation
  • awakening from sleep at night to pass urine
  • dry mouth
  • weight decreased
  • increases in creatinine (shown in laboratory blood tests) in the beginning of treatment
  • increases in urea (shown in laboratory blood tests)

Very rare

  • abnormalities in liver function tests, inflammation of the liver

    (hepatitis)

  • redness of the skin (erythema), itching or an itchy rash (hives)

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via Yellow Card Scheme

Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. How to store Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride Film-coated Tablets

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

For triple laminated cold form (Alu-Alu) blister pack: No specific storage conditions.

For clear PVC/PE/PVdC–Aluminium foil blister pack: Store below 30°C.

Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.

6. Contents of the pack and other information

What Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride Film-coated Tablets contain

  • The active substances are dapagliflozin and metformin hydrochloride.

Each Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride 5 mg/850 mg Film-coated Tablet contains 5 mg dapagliflozin and 850 mg metformin hydrochloride.

Each Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride 5 mg/1000 mg Film-coated Tablet contains 5 mg dapagliflozin and 1,000 mg metformin hydrochloride.

  • The other ingredients are:

For tablet core: lactose monohydrate, hydroxypropylcellulose, and magnesium stearate

For film-coating: polyvinyl alcohol (part hydrolyzed) (E1203), talc (E553b), titanium dioxide (E171), glycerol monocaprylocaprate (Type-1), sodium lauryl sulfate, iron oxide yellow (E172), and iron oxide red (for 5 mg/850 mg only) (E172)

What Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride Film-coated Tablets look like and contents of the pack

Film-coated Tablet

Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride 5 mg/850 mg Film-coated Tablets

Light brown to brown, oval, approximately 20.1 x 9.6mm, film-coated tablet debossed with ‘5’ on one side and ‘850’ on the other side.

Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride 5 mg/1000 mg Film-coated Tablets

Yellow to dark yellow, oval, approximately 21.6 x 10.6mm, film coated tablet debossed with ‘5’ on one side and ‘1000’ on the other side. Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride Film-coated Tablets are available in triple laminated cold form (Alu-Alu) blister pack and clear PVC/PE/PVdC–aluminium foil blister pack.

Pack size of 56 tablets.

Marketing Authorisation Holder

Milpharm Limited

1 Roundwood Avenue,

Stockley Park,

Uxbridge, UB11 1AF

United Kingdom

Manufacturer

APL Swift Services (Malta) Limited

HF26, Hal Far Industrial Estate, Hal Far

Birzebbugia, BBG 3000

Malta

Or

Generis Farmaceutica, S.A.,

Rua Joao De Deus, N 19, Venda Nova,

Amadora, 2700-487, Portugal

Or

Milpharm Limited

1 Roundwood Avenue,

Stockley Park,

Uxbridge, UB11 1AF

United Kingdom

This leaflet was last revised in 05/2026.

Ref: Ver 1.0

About this document

Source: MHRA - Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (products.mhra.gov.uk) · Marketing authorisation: PL 16363/0894

Last revision stated in the text: May 2026 · MHRA data as of 13 October 2026

Found a mistake? Tell us on the contact page.

The information on this site does not replace the advice of a doctor or pharmacist.

Facts about Dapagliflozin and Metformin Hydrochloride 5 mg/1000 mg film-coated tablets

Prescription needed? Yes, prescription-only medicine (POM)
Active substances Metformin, Dapagliflozin
Strength 5 mg/1000 mg
Pharmaceutical form Oral tablet
Yellow to dark yellow, oval-shaped, approximately 21.6 x 10.6 mm, film-coated tablets, debossed with "5" on one side and "1000" on other side.
How is it taken Oral
Excipients Lactose monohydrate, Hydroxypropylcellulose, Magnesium stearate, Polyvinyl alcohol (part hydrolyzed) (E1203), Talc (E553b), Titanium dioxide (E171), Glycerol monocaprylocaprate (Type-1), Sodium lauryl sulfate, Iron oxide yellow (E172)
Is it available? Listed as available (NHS Dictionary of Medicines and Devices – not a record of current supplies)
Shelf life 3 years
Storage For Polyamide/Aluminium/PVC/Aluminium (Alu-Alu) blister pack: This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.
For Clear PVC/PE/PVdC–Aluminium foil blister pack: “Store below 30°C”
Drug group (ATC) Drugs used in diabetes, combinations of oral blood glucose-lowering drugs
  1. A Alimentary tract and metabolism drugs
    1. A10 Drugs used in diabetes
      1. A10B Blood glucose lowering drugs, excl. insulins
        1. A10BD Combinations of oral blood glucose lowering drugs
          1. A10BD15 metformin and dapagliflozin
Marketing authorisation PL 16363/0894 (first authorised 16 July 2026)
Marketing authorisation holder Milpharm Limited
Codes BNF 06010203

Sources: the MHRA product information (products.mhra.gov.uk) and the NHS Dictionary of Medicines and Devices (dm+d), release 10.2.0 of 19 October 2026, NHS Business Services Authority. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.