Recently the FDA issued a warning stating that SGLT2 Inhibitors side effects include ketoacidosis, which is a high level of acidity in the blood.

The Food and Drug Administration released the warning which states that drugs like Invokana and others, which are SGLT2 inhibitors, are dangerous because they may lead to ketoacidosis.

Ketoacidosis is when the body produces high levels of blood acids called ketones. This condition may require hospitalization.

SGLT2 inhibitors are a class of prescription drugs that the FDA approved to treat type 2 diabetes in adults. They should be used in conjunction with diet and exercise.

They way SGLT2 inhibitors, like Invokana, work is that they allow the kidneys to lower blood glucose levels. Excess glucose in the blood is then removed from the body through urine.

If type 2 diabetes is left untreated it can lead to serious problems like blindness, nerve and kidney damage and heart disease. It is a serious disease affecting more than 29 million people in the United States.

SGLT2 Inhibitors Side Effects

Like all medications, SGLT2 inhibitors can have side effects. Possible SGLT2 inhibitors side effects include:

• Diabetic ketoacidosis
• Lactic acidosis
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Kidney failure
• Kidney stones
• Urinary tract infections
• Coma
• Death

Ketoacidosis happens when the body does not have enough insulin to properly metabolize fatty acids called ketones.  Too many ketones causes the blood’s pH to drop.

If ketoacidosis isn’t properly treated, it may lead to diabetic coma, cerebral edema or even death.

Some signs of SGLT2 inhibitors induced ketoacidosis may include:

• Excessive thirst
• Frequent urination
• Nausea and vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Weakness or fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Fruity-scented breath
• Confusion

The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database reports 20 cases of ketoacidosis occurring in patients using SGLT2 inhibitors in a one year time span. All of those patients needed an emergency room visit and required hospitalization.

DKA, (diabetic ketoacidosis), is a subset of ketoacidosis or ketosis in diabetic patients. It is a type of acidosis, or high level of blood acidity, that develops when insulin levels are too low. DKA usually happens in patients with type 1 diabetes and usually comes with high blood sugar levels.

Diabetic ketoacidosis leads to dehydration. In severe cases of dehydration caused by ketoacidosis, acute kidney failure can occur.

Filing an Invokana Lawsuit

Since the FDA issued its first safety communication in last year, many SGLT2 inhibitors side effects medication lawsuits have been filed on behalf of patients who were allegedly harmed as a result of SGLT2 inhibitors like Invokana.

Legal help is available for those who may have developed diabetic ketoacidosis and other complications allegedly associated with Invokana or another SGLT2 inhibitor. An experienced attorney can provide you with a free, no-obligation Invokana lawsuit review.