Amanda Antell  |  July 29, 2015

Category: Legal News

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kidney diseaseIn the midst of the controversy surrounding the country’s main type 2 diabetes treatment drugs, a study was recently released that highlighted the risk of ketoacidosis. More specifically, the study indicated that there was a strong possibility of a correlation between this ketoacidosis and SGLT2 (sodium glucose contransporter-2) inhibitors.

This study was conducted from March 2013 to June 2014, with 20 cases of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) observed; each of the subjects had been prescribed SGLT2 inhibitors. All of these subjects required emergency intervention or hospitalization, with additional reports of SGLT2 inhibitor-induced diabetic ketoacidosis being reported since the study. The study was published in American Association of Clinical Endrocinologist (AACE) and will be presented between Oct. 24-25, 2015, at the Grand Hyatt DFW in Dallas.

Data from the ACCE Scientific and Clinical Review of DKA and the Effects of SGLT2 Inhibitors will be discussed by scientists and diabetes experts to evaluate the risks and benefits of diabetes medications and to make any recommendations to physicians and patients. According to statements from AACE representatives, it is their responsibility to evaluate whether these diabetes medications are safe to prescribe to patients and if they provide more benefits over the potential risks.

With so many unanswered questions, the ACCE and other scientific experts are anxious to any insight the study could provide them.

This study follows a recent FDA announcement released on May 15, 2015, stating that SGLT2 inhibitors could possibly induce ketoacidosis and kidney failure. The agency states that it would continue to investigate these diabetic medications to determine whether or not label changes or other updates may be necessary. These SGLT2 inhibitor medications include:

  • Invokana (Canagliflozin)
  • Invokamet (Canagliflozin and Metformin)
  • Farxiga (Dapagliflozin)
  • Xigduo XR (Dapagliflozin and Metformin extended-release)
  • Jardiance (Empagliflozin)
  • Glyxambi (Empagliflozin and Linagliptin)

Overview of Diabetes Medications Complications

SGLT2 inhibitors are among the most popular diabetes treatment medications in the United States. Ideally, these drugs would allow patients suffering from type 2 diabetes to live relatively uninterrupted by their symptoms and would encourage a healthier and more active lifestyle.

These drugs work by signaling the kidneys to filter sugar out of the body through urination, which insures healthy glucose and blood sugar levels. Unfortunately, it has been recently alleged that these diabetes medications have been causing devastating side effects in patients, such as ketoacidiosis.

The condition of acidosis occurs when there the body’s acidity production increases and the body’s other biological functions cannot keep up. Ketoacidosis occurs when the body not only starts producing excess acids, but also produces high level of ketones, or blood acids. Ketones can build up in the body when insulin levels drop too low, typically after long periods of fasting.

In the FDA’s May 2015 warning, the agency cautiones that patients could be suffering from ketoacidosis if they start experiencing side effects like breathing difficulty, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.

The FDA states that if patients start experiencing these side effects, they should talk to their doctors immediately; patients should never discontinue a medication without consulting their physician.

Currently, personal injury lawyers are encouraging patients who suffered ketoacidosis, along with renal failure or heart attack after taking these diabetes medications, to consider legal action.

In general, diabetes medication lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.

Do YOU have a legal claim? Fill out the form on this page now for a free, immediate, and confidential case evaluation. The attorneys who work with Top Class Actions will contact you if you qualify to let you know if an individual lawsuit or class action lawsuit is best for you. Hurry — statutes of limitations may apply.

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If you or a loved one suffered ketoacidosis or kidney failure after taking Invokana, Invokamet, Farxiga, Xigduo XR, Jardiance or Glyxambi, you may have a legal claim. See if you qualify to pursue compensation and join a free diabetes medication class action lawsuit investigation by submitting your information for a free case evaluation.

An attorney will contact you if you qualify to discuss the details of your potential case.

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