Johnson & Johnson and subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals are facing a new Invokana amputation lawsuit, from a couple alleging the wife had to undergo multiple amputations allegedly due to the treatment failure of Invokana.

This Invokana amputation lawsuit is joining a growing multidistrict litigation (MDL), consisting of other claims alleging serious Invokana drug injuries like amputation.

Plaintiff couple Teresa J. and Paul J. conjointly filed this Invokana amputation lawsuit, alleging the companies either knew or should have known about Invokana’s allegedly defective nature. Like millions of other type-2 diabetes patients, Teresa was prescribed Invokana to help manage her blood sugar levels.

What is Invokana?

Invokana is part of the SGLT2 inhibitor drug family, which work by signaling the kidneys to filter out excess sugar through urination. This increases the chances of ideal blood sugar levels, which would prevent an insulin shortage. Insulin is a vital component of the metabolic process, which allows the body to retrieve nutrients from food.

Without sufficient insulin levels, patients are at risk for serious diabetic complications like ketaocidosis and lower limb amputation. Invokana was presented as an effective countermeasure against these possibilities, but many patients have alleged the medication caused them to undergo lower limb amputation.

According to the Invokana amputation lawsuit, this was allegedly the case with Teresa who had been prescribed the medication on Aug. 29, 2014. She had reportedly used the drug until Oct. 5, 2016, but also reportedly had to undergo lower limb amputations.

Paul and Teresa opted to file the Invokana amputation lawsuit after discovering numerous other patients suffered similar complications, and allege that Johnson & Johnson failed to disclose this information to the public.

Overview of Invokana Amputation Risk

The FDA recently released an official warning regarding Invokana amputation on May 16, 2017, stating that patients taking canagliflozin based medications could face a higher risk of peripheral vascular disease, neuropathy (nerve damage), diabetic foot ulcers (sores), and diabetic amputation.

It is important to note that each of these complications is related to nerve damage caused by type-2 diabetes. Nerve damage can be potentially devastating for type-2 diabetes patients, as communication between the lower limbs and the brain breaks down and cause issues with movement.

This can lead to the development of ulcers and water retention, which can create the need for lower limb amputation. Invokana is supposed to help prevent this complication, but numerous injury reports have indicated that the drug may be ineffective in some patients.

Even though lower limb amputation is a life changing complication for patients, Johnson & Johnson allegedly failed to disclose this information to the general public. Teresa states she would not have agreed to take Invokana if she had known about the risk of diabetic amputation.

Teresa and Paul’s Invokana amputation lawsuit is joining MDL No. 2750, where it will stand alongside other claims alleging similar injuries. Teresa and Paul’s Invokana amputation lawsuit is seeking multiple damages, including counts of negligence and failure to warn.

This Invokana Amputation Lawsuit is Case No. 3:18-cv-11554-BRM-LHG, in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey.