Invokana
Invokana Lawsuit Information
Invokana is a prescription medication for Type 2 diabetes in a class called sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, which works by stopping glucose from being reabsorbed into the blood. It is used to lower blood sugar and to improve glycemic control in adults. A similar medication is Invokamet.
Invokana helps lower a person’s blood sugar by relyining on the kidneys to remove sugar through the urine. It acts by inhibiting a special protein in the kidney called SGLT2 that is responsible for reabsorbing 90 percent of the glucose in the kidneys. Instead of reabsorbing the sugar, the kidneys secrete it, and it leaves the body during urination. This results in lowered levels of glucose in the blood.
Invokana Risks
One of the most severe side effects of Invokana is diabetic ketoacidosis, a life-threatening emergency involving too much acid in the bloodstream. In May 2015, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a drug safety communication that warned patients and doctors that these drugs – and other SGLT2 inhibitors – may lead to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
DKA occurs when the body cannot use sugar (glucose) as a fuel source because there is either too little or no insulin. Instead, the body breaks down fat for energy. The breakdown of fat produces ketones which can build up in the body. When these waste products build up in the blood, they become toxic.
In some cases, untreated ketoacidosis can cause coma and even death. In four studies for the safety of the drug, 1,667 patients took Invokana for about 24 weeks. Most people in the study had Type 2 diabetes for about 7 years. In the study, the most common side effects participants suffered were yeast infections and urinary tract infections. About 10 percent of women and 4 percent of men suffered from yeast infections because of the large amount of sugar in urine.
These UTIs can develop into myocardial infarction (heart attack) and life-threatening blood infections and kidney injuries. In 2013, the FDA panel convened to review initial data on the drug and found that the medication increased the risk of stroke by 46 percent in people who took Invokana versus those who took a placebo.
Invokana Lawsuits
The Invokana lawsuits state the manufacturer of Invokana failed to warn patients and physicians of the increased risks of kidney failure, renal failure and ketoacidosis by taking Invokana. The suits state that if the manufacturer had had proper warning on the labels, then doctors would have prescribed a different medication. Or at least, patients would have had their health monitored on a more frequent basis for potential signs of coronary issues, renal impairment, and high levels of ketones.
Invokana useers have filed lawsuits against the manufacturers for failing to warn of the risks, including strokes, blood clots and acute kidney injuries that required hospitalization.
Contact Us
Our attorneys are actively accepting cases involving the development of ketoacidosis, renal failure, and kidney disease for patients who used Invokana and Invokamet. If you were harmed after taking these drugs or other SGLT2 inhibitors, contact our office to protect your right to make a claim for compensation. You may be eligible to file an Invokana lawsuit.
