Invokana Kidney Damage Lawsuits
Invokana (canagliflozin) manufactured by Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Janssen is a drug prescribed to lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. Invokana and other drugs in its class work to lower blood sugar by causing the kidneys to excrete sugar through the urine. The drug is classified as a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor.
Invokana may cause ketoacidosis
The FDA released a safety announcement in May 2015 for patients and healthcare professionals to pay close attention to the level of ketones or blood acids in the system and warned that Invokana and other SGLT2 inhibitors like Invokamet, Farxiga, Jardiance and others may cause high levels of blood acids. High levels of blood acids can cause difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, confusion, abdominal pain or unusual fatigue.
The FDA reviewed its own adverse event reporting system database and found during a fifteen-month period that 20 cases of diabetic ketoacidosis, ketoacidosis, or ketosis were reported by patients using Invokana and other SGLT2 inhibitors.
Invokana and bone fracture risk
The FDA issued a safety communication September 2015 warning of an increased risk for bone fractures associated with Invokana use. It also added new information about decreased bone mineral density to this warning to advise heath care professionals and patients of this increased risk. The FDA found that Invokana (canagliflozin) is linked to decreases in bone mineral density at the hip and lower spine. For more information about this warning click here.
Invokana and increased risk for amputations
Patients prescribed Invokana face an increased risk for leg, foot, or toe amputations according to a May 2016 FDA safety announcement. An ongoing clinical trial found an increase in amputations, mostly affecting the toes, in patients treated with diabetes medicine canagliflozin. The FDA stated that it will continue to monitor this study and release additional information as it becomes available.
Invokana lawsuits
Numerous lawsuits have been filed against Janssen, the maker of Invokana, by patients who have suffered serious personal injuries including kidney damage, heart attacks, and strokes after taking the drug.
Cohen & Malad, LLP product liability attorneys are interested in talking with people who have taken Invokana and suffered kidney damage, kidney failure or more serious injuries. Our attorneys have litigated hundreds of claims against large pharmaceutical companies and medical device manufacturers. Contact us for a free case evaluation.