Despite being on the market for only two years, Invokana has come under heavy criticism for allegedly causing patients to suffer severe complications.

This type-2 diabetes medication is one of the most popular treatments, but has caused serious concern about side effects including bone fractures and ketoacidosis. Invokana (Canagliflozin) was first introduced to the market in March 2013, by Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals.

Invokana is part of the new drug family called sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, which work by manipulating kidney functions to increase the amount of sugar filtered out of the body through urination.

Overview of Invokana Complications

Experts are now questioning whether Invokana had undergone enough clinical trials or had been sufficiently researched before the drug was released. Concern surrounding these side effects has spurred the FDA into announcing that new warnings will be added to Invokana’s warning label.

The risks mentioned on the updated label include bone fractures and deteriorating bone density, which could occur after 12 weeks of starting Invokana.

The FDA also noted that Invokana has been associated with other severe complications like ketoacidosis, or elevated acidity levels in the blood. The FDA released a warning in May citing at least 20 injury reports indicating ketoacidosis that was allegedly caused by Invokana and other SGLT2 inhibitors. Nearly all of the injury reports stated that the patients were hospitalized, with many needing urgent medical treatment.

According to a recent report by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), the continuing popularity of Invokana could be problematic. The researchers state that the risks of the drug may outweigh the benefits.

The ISMP had evaluated 457 serious injury reports that had been submitted to the FDA during Invokana’s first year on the market.

Each of these reports involved either kidney failure, kidney impairment, urinary tract infections, dehydration, hypersensitivity, and abnormal weight loss.

At the time Invokana was going through the approval process, the drug was reportedly not tested in a sufficient number of patients, for long-term use, according to the report. As more complaints from patients using Invokana surface, more lawsuits are being filed over the side effects they allegedly suffered from Invokana.