Johnson & Johnson is facing a growing multidistrict litigation consisting of claims from patients who were prescribed the diabetes medication Invokana and suffered unexpected kidney complications. One of the most recent Invokana lawsuits comes from a Mississippi woman, alleging she suffered Invokana effects on kidneys.

Plaintiff Mary B. says she was prescribed the diabetes medication Invokana for typical treatment purposes in managing her type-2 diabetes symptoms. However, she opted to file legal action against Johnson & Johnson and subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals after allegedly suffering unexpected kidney side effects.

According to the Invokana lawsuit, Mary had been prescribed the diabetes medication Invokana in July 2015 and used the drug as instructed by her doctor and prescription instructions. During the course of her Invokana prescription, Mary used the drug in conjunction with diet and exercise while having no reason to suspect potentially fatal Invokana effects on kidneys.

Not long after starting the diabetes medication Invokana, Mary says she had to be hospitalized for a urinary tract infections with sepsis and acute kidney failure on July 14, 2015. Several months later on Oct. 30, 2015, Mary was hospitalized for acute kidney injury.

Days later, Mary was once agains hospitalized for urinary tract infection, sepsis, acute kidney failure, and myocardial infarction. After discovering Johnson & Johnson had allegedly known about the potential Invokana effects on kidneys, Mary opted to file legal action against Johnson & Johnson.

Overview of Invokana Effects on Kidneys

Invokana is a part of the popular SGLT2 inhibitor drug class, which works by preventing the body’s blood sugar levels from getting too high. SGLT2 inhibitors work by expelling excess sugar through urination, by signaling the kidneys.

While this treatment mechanism has reportedly worked well for many patients, this has allegedly caused potentially fatal kidney problems. Numerous patients have been allegedly developing diabetic ketoacidosis, which occurs when the body is forced to metabolize fat.

This causes the blood to become very acidic, which can cause major harm to the kidneys. The FDA released a public warning regarding to SGLT2 inhibitors in May 15, 2015, with the agency stating these drugs could induce ketoacidosis.

Even though these adverse Invokana effects on kidneys could be potentially fatal to patients, plaintiffs like Mary claim Johnson & Johnson failed to adequately warn patients. Mary says there are alternative type-2 diabetes medications she could have taken, and she would have opted for those if she had known about potential Invokana effects on kidneys.

Mary states she would not have agreed to take the diabetes medication Invokana if she had known about adverse effects it had on the kidneys. Mary is filing her Invokana lawsuit in MDL No. 2750, where it will stand alongside other claims alleging adverse Invokana effects on kidneys.

By joining an MDL, Mary’s Invokana lawsuit will be streamlined through the litigation process and will avoid problems like conflicting rulings from different judges.

Mary is seeking multiple damages against the company for negligence and failure to warn, alleging her health and quality of life were permanently compromised by the diabetes medication Invokana.

This Invokana Lawsuit is Case No. 3:17-cv-12317-BRM-LHG, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.