Since its initial FDA approval in 2013, Invokana has rapidly become a popular choice for both doctors and patients in treating type II diabetes. The drug has been found to be especially effective in managing blood sugar levels without having to be used in combination with other medications, such as metformin, making it a convenient and attractive treatment option. However, the number of serious side effects and injuries experienced by patients being treated with the drug continues to mount as the number of Invokana lawsuits continues to climb.
How Does Invokana Work?
After we eat, our bodies naturally make insulin in order to process the sugar that has been released by the food. However, in a person with type II diabetes this natural process does not work on its own, and levels of sugar can build up and become dangerously high. In order to prevent this, patients with type II diabetes are generally treated with medication that reduces the amount of sugar made by the liver and makes insulin receptors more sensitive (helping the body respond better to its own insulin). All of these effects cause a decrease in blood sugar levels.
Invokana belongs to a new class of medications called sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. While most traditional diabetes medications work to increase insulin in the body, Invokana works to control blood sugar levels by preventing the kidneys from reabsorbing sugar released into the blood after food has been digested. Instead of being brought back into the blood stream, the sugar is flushed out of the body in the urine. This new method is very effective in controlling the level of sugar in the blood, but not without potentially dangerous side effects.
What Side Effects Have Been Reported?
In the first year Invokana was on the market, over 450 reports of serious adverse side effects began to emerge. Many of these reports involved kidney failure, severe dehydration, kidney stones, urinary tract infections and abnormal weight loss. Another serious side effect reported includes diabetic ketoacidosis, a condition that can cause swelling of the brain and even coma. If left untreated, diabetic ketoacidosis can be fatal.
Contact an Experienced Invokana Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of taking the diabetes medication Invokana, you may be able to receive compensation for your medical bills, lost income and pain and suffering, among other losses. Our firm is working with experienced Invokana lawyers across the country, who are investigating these cases. They may be able to file an Invokana lawsuit for you, and they charge no fee unless you win an award or settlement. For a free (no obligation) case evaluation, call our toll free number at 1-800-992-6878 or fill out a contact form online.
Paul d’Oliveira
Attorney Paul d’Oliveira has been practicing personal injury and disability law for over 30 years. He started his personal injury law practice in 1989 with two offices in Fall River, MA and East Providence, RI. Today his firm has 16 offices in RI and Southeastern, MA.
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