A man has filed a diabetic ketoacidosis lawsuit alleging he suffers from this dangerous blood condition, among other side effects of Invokana.

Invokana is a member of drug class known as sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. The  SGLT2 inhibitors act by keeping renal glucose from reabsorbing back into the blood. Instead, the excess sugar is excreted through the patient’s urine.

Because of the drug’s effect on the kidneys, side effects of Invokana allegedly create additional stress on the kidneys of patients who are already at a greater risk for kidney disease.

SGLT2 inhibitors such as Invokana vary in their ability to select only the SGLT2. Sometimes Invokana blocks other receptors, including the SGLT1 receptors, which are located throughout the body in the kidneys, intestines and brain.

According to the diabetic ketoacidosis lawsuit, “Invokana has the highest selectivity for the SGLT1 receptor among SGLT2 inhibitors currently marketed in the United States.”

By blocking SGLT1 receptors as well, Invokana allegedly increases the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis and kidney failure.

Because Invokana prevents the body from using a significant amount of glucose as fuel, the body may turn to fat as the alternative source of energy. When the body breaks down fat into energy, acids known as ketones enter the blood stream. When too much acid enters the blood, diabetic ketoacidosis is the result and can be a life-threatening situation.

Side Effects of Invokana Allegedly Were Hidden

The diabetic ketoacidosis lawsuit alleges that drug maker Janssen, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, published advertisements and press releases that included only favorable information regarding Invokana. No mention was made of the possible increased risk of diabetic ketoacidosis or kidney problems.

Invokana’s “marketing campaign willfully and intentionally misrepresented the risks of Invokana and failed to warn about the risks of diabetic ketoacidosis and kidney failure,” alleges the diabetic ketoacidosis lawsuit.

Side effects of Invokana were allegedly hidden because the SGLT2 inhibitor is one of Janssen’s top selling drugs with annual sales of more than $1 billion.

Janssen reportedly had a variety of evidence at their disposal that indicated Invokana’s dangers. Both animal studies and human clinical studies indicated increased ketones occurred with Invokana use. Clinical studies and adverse event reports received by the FDA indicated side effects of Invokana could include dehydration, vomiting and diabetic ketoacidosis were all possible side effects of Invokana.

Complicating matters is the fact that Invokana-induced diabetic ketoacidosis usually maintains a blood sugar below 250, which is a threshold most often used when diagnosing diabetic ketoacidosis. When doctors see this conflicting information, it can lead to delayed diagnosis, delayed treatment, and may allow the condition to progress to life-threatening levels.

The side effects of Invokana include a buildup of sugar in the tubes that lead from the kidneys as the kidneys try to expel the excess glucose. This sugar buildup in the kidney’s tubes leads to acute kidney failure.

The Diabetic Ketoacidosis Lawsuit is Case No. 3:17-cv-13136-BRM-LHG in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, Trenton Division.