The Food and Drug Administration has recently issued a Black Box warning about Invokana and the risk of amputation. Other safety concerns have been raised over serious side effects such as severe urinary tract infection, kidney failure and heart attack. If you or a loved one have been harmed after taking Invokana, you may be eligible to file an Invokana lawsuit.
Should I talk to a lawyer about the experience I had with the drug Invokana?
If you or a loved one used the type 2 diabetes medication Invokana, you might be eligible for financial compensation. Some Invokana users have required amputation of the leg, foot or toe after using the drug. Others have developed diabetic ketoacidosis or suffered other side effects such as severe kidney infection, heart attack or stroke after taking Invokana.
Invokana (canagliflozin) is an SGLT2 inhibitor, which is a type of medication that works by lowering blood glucose levels. It does this by encouraging higher amounts of sugar to be released through urine. Though the medication does help control blood sugar levels, it triggers a number of other side effects, many of which are severe.
Some Invokana users experienced cardiovascular issues including heart attacks and strokes, as well as diabetic ketoacidosis and kidney health issues. Final results from two clinical studies, CANVAS and CANVAS-R have shown that use of Invokana may double the risk for limb amputation and have prompted the FDA to release a black box warning about the risk.
For some, the use of Invokana triggered side effects so severe they needed hospitalization. Others suffered permanent disability.
In response to these devastating medical emergencies, many Invokana users have opted to take legal action against the makers of the drug. Both Janssen Pharmaceuticals and its parent company, Johnson & Johnson, allegedly failed to warn consumers and doctors about the risks linked to their drug.
Side Effects of Invokana
A number of serious adverse events have been linked to Invokana. These severe side effects include:
- Kidney injury and kidney failure
- Urinary tract infection
- Cardiovascular problems including heart attack and stroke
- Diabetic ketoacidosis
- Amputation of the leg, foot or toe
Diabetics face an increased risk for vascular problems, which in some cases can lead to the need for amputation. Final results from two separate clinical trials have shown that diabetics treating their disease with Invokana may have a risk of amputation that is twice as high as expected.
In addition to requiring labeling changes, the black box warning issued on May, 16, 2017 advises patients that any symptoms of inflammation, pain or tenderness, sores or ulcers or signs of infection that develop in the legs or feet should be reported to a health care practitioner.
It also recommends that health care practitioners consider other patient risk factors such as peripheral vascular disease, neuropathy or prior amputation history before prescribing Invokana. Health care practitioners are advised to monitor patients and discontinue Invokana if new signs or symptoms develop.
If you experience any unusual symptoms in your extremities, or you have any symptoms that could be related to heart or kidney health issues, you should seek medical attention immediately.
Do You Have an Invokana Lawsuit?
Medical injuries caused by Invokana have required hospitalization, surgery, and extensive medical treatments. In some cases, injuries have been permanent, resulted in disability or even death.
Invokana users and their families may have a right to take legal action against Janssen and Johnson & Johnson if their use of the drug caused serious injuries. Current Invokana lawsuits allege the companies were aware of the risks and failed to warn doctors and consumers. Users of the drug claim if they had known of the risks they would have opted for a different course of treatment.
Those who were injured or lost loved ones after use of Invokana to treat type 2 diabetes could be eligible for financial compensation for medical treatment, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If it can be proven the drug makers were aware of the risks, those affected might also be entitled to punitive damages.
Several lawsuits regarding Invokana have already been filed in courts across the country. If enough Invokana users take action, these cases might be combined into multi-district litigation, making the process of resolving the matter easier for everyone involved.
With the FDA’s most recent, black box warning about Invokana, it is expected additional lawsuits will be filed.
Have you experienced any of the following after using Invokana?
- Amputation
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Kidney injuries
- Diabetic ketoacidosis
- Other serious side effects
You might be eligible for compensation for your injuries. Contact us today to learn more.
Risks of Invokana
Invokana may cause a number of side effects including some that are severe and potentially life-threatening.
Leg or foot amputation may be required when the vascular system is no longer able to transport blood distant areas. The lack of oxygen and nutrients and long-term damage caused by high blood sugar levels can result in cellular death. Over time, this dead tissue in the extremities, particularly the feet and legs may become infected in a condition known as “gangrene”. In order to avoid the spread of gangrene, the affected area must be removed through amputation. Invokana may increase the risk of leg, foot or toe amputation.
Kidney Injury – Under normal conditions, the kidneys work to remove waste products from the blood, which are then released into the urine. The kidneys also help to maintain glucose, fluid and electrolyte balance and regulate blood pressure.
Acute kidney failure occurs when the kidneys stop functioning suddenly due to a medical event like diabetic ketoacidosis, urinary tract infection or drug side effects
Chronic renal failure or chronic kidney disease occurs when long-term damage to the kidney occurs and over time, the kidneys stop functioning. CRF/CKD may result in a need for dialysis.
Severe urinary tract infection occurs because of the high amounts of sugar released into the urine. A severe UTI may result in loss of kidney function.
Ketoacidosis may occur when the body cannot use glucose as a fuel for cellular functions. This triggers the breakdown of fat, which can result in the accumulation of an acidic byproduct known as ketones. The acidic conditions of the blood may also cause a buildup of potassium and increases the chance of
Cardiovascular Injury – Oxygen is normally supplied by the blood circulation but when the supply of oxygen is restricted to vital areas, severe injury may occur.
Heart attack or myocardial infarction is the result of the oxygen supply to the heart muscle, suddenly being cut off causing death of starved heart muscle cells.
Stroke or cerebral infarction is the result of the oxygen supply to the brain, suddenly being cut off causing death of starved brain cells.
Amputation of extremities such as leg, foot or toes may be required when tissue in these areas dies. The cardiovascular system becomes unable to supply adequate oxygen and nutrients to areas that are far away from the heart. Once cellular death begins to occur, severe infection (gangrene) may develop if the affected area is not removed through amputation.
Patients who are taking Invokana or other SGLT2 inhibitor medications should be advised to seek medical attention when symptoms of heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, ketoacidosis or gangrene develop. These symptoms may include:
- chest pain
- nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain
- increased heart rate
- dizziness or fainting
- confusion
- sudden head pain
- inability to move on one or both sides
- sudden difficulty speaking
- difficulty breathing or hyperventilation
- extreme fatigue
- muscle weakness
- increased urination and thirst
- urinary or flank pain
- infection in toes, feet or skin
- blackened areas of extremities
- loss of feeling in toes, feet or skin
If symptoms of heart attack, stroke, infection (gangrene), ketoacidosis, or kidney failure develop, patients taking Invokana should seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Certain medical conditions may increase the risk of serious Invokana side effects. Patients should notify their health care practitioner if they know they have:
- High or low blood pressure
- High potassium levels or other electrolyte imbalances
- Heart disease
- Decreased kidney function or kidney failure
- Decreased liver function or liver failure
- Low salt diet
- Other medication use
Women who are or who intend to become pregnant and those who are breast feeding should talk to their doctor about the risks of Invokana before taking the medication.
Invokana Lawsuit
Patients and family member of those who have been injured by Invokana have filed lawsuits against the manufacturer, Janssen and Johnson & Johnson. Invokana lawsuits claim that Janssen / Johnson & Johnson knew about serious side effects including heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, diabetic ketoacidosis and the increased risk of a need for amputation but continued to market the medication without adequate warning to the public or medical community. If increased risks had been acknowledged, patients may have avoided injury by discontinuing the medication and reporting symptoms immediately.
Patients who have been injured after taking Invokana may be eligible for compensation for medical treatment costs, future treatment costs, lost wages and pain and suffering. In addition, if the company can be shown to have known about the risks but failed to warn the medical community or public, they may be liable for punitive damages.
When multiple, similar lawsuits are filed against one particular company, those lawsuits may be consolidated into multidistrict litigation (MDL) in the same court. This allows plaintiffs to pool information but does not mean all victims must accept any particular settlement offer. One or two cases, known as bellwether trials will be tried first. These trials may help determine if a settlement is likely and in some cases, settlements are offered before the trial is concluded. MDL is different from class action lawsuit. Invokana medical injury lawsuits may be consolidated into MDL, but no MDL has been announced yet. Previous MDL lawsuits regarding injury caused by antidiabetic medications have resulted in settlements of hundreds of thousands of dollars but no Invokana settlements have been reached.
Since the FDA’s warnings were announced, more patients in both the U.S. and Canada, have filed Invokana lawsuits and though many of the cases may be similar, there are no guarantees. Each medical injury case is different and must be considered separately.
Patients who have experienced cardiovascular injuries such as heart attack or stroke, kidney injuries ketoacidosis, or required amputation after taking Ivokana, may be eligible for compensation and should seek legal assistance.