In recent years, multiple diabetes medications have been linked with serious and even fatal side effects. Now, the FDA warns that some members of a newer class of type 2 diabetes medications may cause ketoacidosis, a condition where levels of blood acids become dangerously high.
On May 15, 2015, the FDA issued a Drug Safety Communication stating that sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor drugs may cause ketoacidosis. This class of oral diabetes drugs work by encouraging the secretion of blood sugar through urination and include:
- Farxiga (dapagliflozin) by AstraZenica
- Invokana (canagliflozin) by Johnson & Johnson
- Jardiance (embagliflozin) from Eli Lilly and Boehringer
- Invokamet (canagliflozin plus metformin) by Johnson & Johnson
- Xigduo XR (dapagliflozin plus metformin extended release) by AstraZenica
- Glyxambi (empagliflozin plus linagliptin) by Eli Lilly and Boehringer
According to a Reuters article, the FDA had received 20 cases of acidosis reported in various forms through its Adverse Event Reporting System between March 2013 and June 6, 2014 in patients taking SGLT2 inhibitors. Each of these patients was treated at an emergency room or hospital as a result of this condition.
Ketoacidosis, according to the American Diabetes Association, “is a serious condition that can lead to diabetic coma (passing out for a long time) or even death.” Symptoms may include dry mouth, thirst, frequent urination, high blood sugar, fatigue, nausea or vomiting, dry or flushed skin, confusion, and difficulty breathing.
Despite the recent popularity of these diabetes drugs because they may also help patients to lose weight, some suspect that this news will lead to increased popularity of competitive diabetes medications such as Januvia which are not associated with ketoacidosis. “Inasmuch as there will be heightened awareness of this new safety issue with the SGLT2s, it could benefit other oral diabetes drug classes such as the DPP4 inhibitors,” Bernstein analyst Tim Anderson said in a research note (quoted by Reuters). “The biggest of the DPP4s, by a wide margin, is Merck’s Januvia.”
The diabetes drug Actos has been the topic of a number of personal injury lawsuits brought by patients who claim that their bladder cancer diagnosis was an unknown side effect of the medication. Other diabetes medications, such as Januvia, Victoza, and Byetta have been linked with a higher rate of potentially deadly pancreatic cancer.
If you or your loved one has suffered from serious side effects of a diabetes medication, you could be entitled to compensation for your financial, physical, and emotional damages. Contact our experienced diabetes drug lawyers today to learn more in a free legal consultation.
