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Brand names: Farxiga / Jardiance / Forxiga • Drug class: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors
SGLT2 inhibitors — originally diabetes drugs — are now a cornerstone of kidney disease treatment. DAPA-CKD and EMPA-KIDNEY trials proved they slow kidney failure by 30-40% in CKD with and without diabetes, and reduce heart failure hospitalizations.
SGLT2 inhibitors reduce intraglomerular pressure (the hyperfiltration that damages kidneys), lower albuminuria by ~30-40%, and slow eGFR decline by roughly half in CKD. They work in diabetic and non-diabetic CKD alike, and the benefit grows the longer they're taken.
39% lower risk of kidney failure, doubling of creatinine, or kidney death with dapagliflozin in CKD with albuminuria
DAPA-CKD (Heerspink HJL et al., NEJM 2020), 2020
28% lower risk of kidney disease progression or cardiovascular death in a broad CKD population
EMPA-KIDNEY (Herrington WG et al., NEJM 2023), 2023
~38% reduction in albuminuria within 6 months (DAPA-CKD)
DAPA-CKD albuminuria analysis, 2020
Dapagliflozin: start at eGFR ≥25 (CKD indication); continue while on therapy; stop if dialysis starts. Empagliflozin: start at eGFR ≥20 in CKD with albuminuria. Both are once-daily oral tablets. No dose titration needed.
Check your kidney functionThis page is educational. Medication decisions — especially dosing changes — must be made by your prescribing clinician.
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This content is a general reference, not medical advice, a diagnosis, or a treatment plan. Do not change your diet, fluids, medicines, or dialysis plan without your nephrologist or renal dietitian. Individual recommendations depend on your labs, medications, conditions, and care plan.