Invokana, generically known as canagliflozin, used to treat Type 2 diabetes can lead to Invokana kidney injury.

Johnson & Johnson’s Invokana is prescribed to maintain lower blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes.

It is in a class of drugs called SGLT2 inhibitors which work by making the kidneys remove sugar from the body through the urine rather than having it reabsorbed into the blood.

Invokana Kidney Injury

Side effects can include Invokana kidney injury. The FDA confirmed 101 cases of Invokana kidney injury between March 2013, when Invokana was released on the market, to October 2015.

Patients should be aware of signs such as decreased urination and swelling of the hands or feet which can mean toxins are building up in the body.

In severe cases of Invokana kidney injury, the kidneys suddenly stop working.

The risks of kidney damage increase for patients also taking diuretics, blood pressure medications, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

The FDA wants people who suffer from decreased blood volume, chronic kidney insufficiency and congestive heart failure to be especially vigilant regarding signs of dehydration.

Invokana Linked to Ketoacidosis

Ketoacidosis means the body has produced an abnormally high level of blood acids, which can lead to brain swelling, Invokana kidney injury, and eventually, kidney failure.

The human body has a narrow range of blood and cellular fluids that can be considered either too acidic (low pH) or too basic (high pH).

Ketoacidosis occurs when the body’s cells don’t receive the glucose they need for energy, and the body begins to burn fat for energy. This is the process that produces ketones.

These ketones break down the fat to turn it into energy. When the ketones build up in the blood, the resulting ketoacidosis can make a person very ill.

In ketoacidosis, insulin levels are so low that the body cannot regulate blood sugar, and the fatty acid flow is inadequate.

Symptoms of ketoacidosis are:

• Thirst or a very dry mouth
• Frequent urination
• High blood glucose (blood sugar) levels
• High levels of ketones in the urine

Symptoms of progressed ketoacidosis:

• Constantly feeling tired
• Dry or flushed skin
• Nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain
• Difficulty breathing
• Fruity odor on breath
• A hard time paying attention, or confusion

Between March 2013 and June 2014, the FDA reported 20 cases of diabetic ketoacidosis in patients treated with SGLT2 inhibitors such as Invokana.

The FDA reports the median time between the start of taking Invokana and the onset of ketoacidosis symptoms was two weeks.

FDA Warns of Possible Link to Increased Risk of Amputations

The FDA is warning people who take Invokana that they might be at increased risk of needing an amputation.

Preliminary results from the CANVAS clinical trial have shown that seven in 1,000 patients on Invokana needed an amputation compared to only three in 1,000 who were on a placebo (fake pill).

The study began in 2009 and involved 4,500 people.

Janssen Pharmaceuticals alerted European doctors that the combination of dehydration and depleted blood volume might encourage foot disease that leads to possible amputation.

Invokana kidney injury, ketoacidosis and possible amputation are all reasons to see a lawyer to learn about your rights as a consumer.