A recent investigation into Invokana side effects was launched after the FDA made an announcement on May 15 that suggested the drug contained unwarned side effects. Invokana and other diabetes medication may cause ketoacidosis and kidney failure, said the FDA announcement.

What is Ketoacidosis?

Ketoacidosis is a condition caused when the kidneys fail to flush ketones (blood acids) out of the body. While the kidney and lungs are supposed to work together to keep a healthy acid level in the body, Invokana can upset this balance. Diabetes medications cause kidneys to remove sugar from the body, but if the insulin levels are too low, patients can develop ketoacidosis.

Invokana is a SGLT2 inhibitor which is a new group of diabetes medications that has been released on the market. Invokana causes the kidneys to absorb less glucose, which is what helps treat diabetes. The glucose exits the body through the urine. These increased glucose levels, however, have caused many to develop infections, as urine usually does not contain much glucose.

Ketoacidosis symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, confusion, fatigue, difficulty breathing, abdominal pain, and a fruity-smelling breath. Ketoacidosis can require hospitalization and even a coma or death.

FDA Announcement

The FDA warned against Invokana ketoacidosis after receiving multiple reports that Invokana and other diabetes medications were allegedly responsible for causing potentially deadly side effects. Over 20 adverse event reports were filed with the FDA over the course of a year with more expected.

Maybe 10% of all adverse events caused by drugs are actually reported to the FDA. It is generally assumed that most unwarned side effect cases go unreported. The QuarterWatch report for 2014 claimed that the Institute for Safe Medication Practices had received 457 reports of Invokana side effects.

They stated in the report, “early signals for a new kind of diabetes drug, canagliflozin (Invokana) raise questions about whether enough is known about this agent to be assured that its benefits outweigh its risks.”

Most of the patients who developed Invokana side effects, including ketoacidosis, had type 1 diabetes.

Invokana Lawsuits

Many diabetes medications including Invokana are under investigation for causing ketoacidosis and other serious side effects. You may be able to file a diabetes medication lawsuit or join a diabetes medication class action lawsuit if you have experienced adverse side effects from one of the following medications:

• Invokana (canagliflozin)
• Invokamet (canagliflozin and metformin)
• Farxiga (dapagliflozin)
• Xigduo XR (dapagliflozin and metformin extended-release)
• Jardiance (empagliflozin)
• Glyxambi (empagliflozin and linagliptin)

If you are experiencing ketoacidosis symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, nausea, abdominal pain, and more, please see a medical professional. Never stop using a medication unless instructed by your doctor.