What is Invokana and Why does it get Prescribed?

Invokana (canagliflozin) is a SGLT2 inhibitor used in combination with diet and exercise to improve glycemic control and lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. When left untreated, type 2 diabetes can lead to serious problems, including amputations, blindness, nerve damage, kidney failure, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and a range of other problems. Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. SGLT2 inhibitors are intended to lower a person’s blood sugar by causing the kidneys to remove it through the urine.

FDA Alerts

In May of 2016, the FDA issued a drug safety communication reporting that “interim safety results from an ongoing clinical trial that found an increase in leg and foot amputations, mostly affecting the toes” in patients treated with the diabetes medicine Invokana or Invokamet.

According to a different FDA Safety Communication, taking Invokana and other SGLT2 inhibitors can also increase the risk of ketoacidosis, which occurs when a high level of acids called ketones accumulate in the blood. If the condition is severe enough, it could lead to diabetic coma and may require hospitalization. Other side effects include kidney failure and cardiovascular problem.

Invokana Lawsuits

Diabetes patients filing an Invokana lawsuit allege that the manufacturers and marketers of SGLT2 inhibitors – including Johnson & Johnson, Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc., AstraZeneca & Boehringer Ingelheim – failed to warn patients and physicians of the increased risk of amputations, kidney failure, ketoacidosis, myocardial infarction (heart attacks), and other cardiovascular issues to patients taking the drug.

The lawsuits claim that if the drug makers had adequately warned of the risks, patients would have been able to make a more informed decision on treatment for their diabetes and may have opted for a substitute medication. Patients also claim that, had they decided to take the medication, they would have had their health monitored on a more routine basis for potential signs of heart issues, renal impairment, and high level of ketones.

Have You Been Injured? You May Have a Valid Claim!

It is the duty of drug makers to provide drugs that are safe for their intended uses. If that duty is unfulfilled, or if a drug maker fails to warn patients of potential dangers that may be associated with a medication, the company can be held liable for injuries that may result.

The Falkowitz Law Firm seeks to help those injured by dangerous and defective drugs recover compensation for their losses. If you or somebody you know used Invokana and thereafter underwent an amputation, contact us today for a free case evaluation.