Diabetes patients have recently become concerned about developing Onglyza heart failure as a result of taking the new diabetes treatment.

Onglyza is a popular type-2 diabetes medication that contains saxagliptin. Unfortunately, for some users, a potential link exists between taking medications containing saxagliptin and signs of heart failure.

Onglyza has been available on the market since 2009 after it received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The medication is prescribed along with diet monitoring and exercise to treat people who have been diagnosed with type-2 diabetes.

Onglyza belongs to a new class of diabetic medications that are known as incretin mimetics.  These medications work by acting as incretin hormones which stimulate glucose dependent insulin release.

What is Type-2 Diabetes?

Type-2 diabetes is a serious condition that effects over 29 million people in the United States or approximately 9.3 percent of the U.S. population. Diabetes is a metabolic disease that affects the body’s ability to process blood sugar (glucose).

According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control, Hispanic, Native American, Alaska Natives, and non-Hispanic black adults are twice as likely to be diagnosed with type-2 diabetes as non-Hispanic white adults.

Diabetes is a serious disease that can be treated with proper medication, diet, and exercise. If left untreated, complications from the disease can result in vision loss, heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, amputation, and death.

Onglyza Heart Failure

Unfortunately, diabetes medications can have severe side effects on the human body. Recently, one type-2 diabetes medication, Avandia, was taken off the market after it was linked to a significant increase in patients’ risk of cardiac death.

Medical researchers are now on high alert and on the look out for connections between diabetes medications and causes of heart failure. Consumer protection attorneys are currently investigating whether Onglyza is linked to signs of heart failure.

Causes of Heart Failure

Heart failure often develops after some other condition has damaged or weakened the heart.  Causes of heart failure can include coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, faulty heart values, damage to the heart muscle, abnormal heart rhythms, and some medications.

A 2013 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, recently found that patients who took Onglyza were slightly more like to be hospitalized for heart failure than patients who used other diabetes medications.

Signs of heart failure include shortness of breath, fatigue and weakness, swelling in the legs, ankles, and feet, and rapid or irregular heartbeat.

Treating Onglyza Heart Failure

Heart failure is a chronic lifelong disease, however certain treatments can help reduce symptoms and chances of death.  In some cases, doctors can fix signs of heart failure by treating the underlying cause of the symptom.  This can mean a wide range of things from repairing heart values to discontinuing certain medications. Patients should see their treating physician before discontinuing any medication.

Patients or family member of loved ones who have suffered from signs of heart failure while taking Onglyza may be able to bring an Onglyza lawsuit against the pharmaceutical manufacturers. Deciding to bring a lawsuit is a big decision and a legal professional can help potential plaintiffs determine whether or not a suit should be brought.