Diabetes drug Onglyza has been hailed as a miracle drug by patients and physicians of diabetic patients whose condition has not responded to other forms of treatment.

This diabetes drug and others in its class were considered as breakthrough drugs because they can efficiently stabilize the blood sugar of patients without causing side effects associated with other diabetes drug medications such as weight gain and hypoglycemia in response to taking the drug.

Onglyza belongs to a class of drugs known as DPP-4 inhibitors. This diabetes drug exerts its action upon a substance in the body known as GLP-1 by preventing it from breaking down. With the breakdown of GLP-1 prevented, more of this substance is active in the body, and this causes blood sugar and insulin to adjust only when necessary as opposed to other drugs which alter blood sugar and insulin levels indiscriminately.

Despite its efficacy, diabetes drug Onglyza carries serious risks of complications associated with its use.

Complications Associated with Diabetes Drug Onglyza

A number of complications have been associated with the use of diabetes drug Onglyza. One side effect associated with the drug is heart failure. Heart failure refers to the heart’s inability to keep up with the body’s demand for blood.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration addressed the risk of heart failure in a drug safety communication issued in February 2014 and updated in April 2016. Clinical trials showed that patients who took saxagliptin (the generic name for diabetes drug Onglyza) were hospitalized for heart failure at a higher rate than other patients who were given a placebo.

In response to the results of those trials, the FDA added new information to the Warnings and Precautions section of Onglyza’s label, advising patients about the potential increased risk of heart failure.

Other complications associated with the use of diabetes drug Onglyza include problems with the pancreas. Pancreatitis is associated with Onglyza use. Pancreatitis refers to inflammation of the pancreas, the organ responsible for producing enzymes that assist the body in digestion as well as producing hormones that regulate glucose production in the body.

Because Onglyza works by stimulating the cells located in the pancreas, this is a possible mechanism by which pancreatic inflammation occurs.  Pancreatitis may simply appear on its own as an isolated condition, and other times, pancreatitis may be a precursor to the development of pancreatic cancer.

Because it is typically only diagnosed in its latest stages, pancreatic cancer is seen as one of the most serious types of cancers diagnosed. Early signs of pancreatic cancer or typically nonspecific and are easily missed, and it is not until the condition has progressed that the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is even considered.

Did You Have Complications from Diabetes Drug Onglyza?

Some patients who have experienced complications from diabetes drug Onglyza have felt that the drug’s manufacturer did not do enough to properly warn patients of the serious conditions that are associated with its use. Patients suffering from complications from diabetes drug Onglyza may be eligible to take legal action against the manufacturer and pursue compensation for personal injuries.

Plaintiffs who go on to reach successful settlements may be able to recover damages related to medial expenses, pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of spousal companionship, loss of enjoyment of life, and more. They may also be able to seek punitive damages designed to punish the manufacturer for the alleged wrongdoing.

An attorney experienced in product liability lawsuits who is familiar with the complications related to diabetes drug Onglyza can provide you with a free case consultation to discuss your unique situation and to inform you of your legal options.