A man has filed suit against Bristol-Myers Squibb because of Farxiga adverse side effects.

Plaintiff Bruce S. says he suffered diabetic ketoacidosis and went into a coma. He was in the hospital from April 16, 2015 through April 19, 2015.

Farxiga Adverse Side Effects Can Include Kidney Damage

In May 2015, the FDA warned patients who take drugs such as Farxiga (dapagliflozin) that they could be at an increased risk of ketoacidosis and kidney failure.

Farxiga belongs to a class of drugs called sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. These medications lower blood sugar in a diabetic by forcing the patient’s system to excrete extra glucose through urination rather than sending the glucose back into the blood stream.

Type-2 diabetics already are at higher risk for kidney disease, and SGLT2 medications make the kidneys work even harder.

Patients should be aware of signs such as decreased urination and swelling of the hands or feet, which can mean toxins are building up in the body.

In severe cases of Farxiga adverse side effects, the kidneys suddenly stop working.

According to the lawsuit, “Defendants knew that the likelihood of renal adverse effects such as acute renal failure was nearly tripled in patients with near normal kidney function taking” an SGLT2 inhibitor and “more than doubled in patients with even moderately impaired kidney function.”

Farxiga Patients Need to Be Aware of Ketoacidosis Possibility

Ketoacidosis is a condition produced by abnormally high levels of blood acids, which can lead to brain swelling and kidney injury, and eventually, kidney failure.

The human body has a narrow range of blood and cellular fluids that can be considered either too acidic (low pH) or too basic (high pH).

Ketoacidosis occurs when the body’s cells don’t receive the glucose they need for energy and the body begins to burn fat for energy, a process that produces ketones. These ketones break down the fat to turn it into energy. When the ketones build up in the blood, the resulting ketoacidosis can make a person very ill.

In ketoacidosis, insulin levels are so low that the body cannot regulate blood sugar, and the fatty acid flow is inadequate. Ketoacidosis is one of the most dangerous Farxiga adverse side effects.

Symptoms of ketoacidosis are:

• Thirst or a very dry mouth
• Frequent urination
• High blood glucose (blood sugar) levels
• High levels of ketones in the urine

Symptoms of progressed ketoacidosis:

• Constantly feeling tired
• Dry or flushed skin
• Nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain
• Difficulty breathing
• Fruity odor on breath
• A hard time paying attention, or confusion

Between March 2013 and May 2015, the FDA reported 73 cases of diabetic ketoacidosis in patients treated with SGLT2 inhibitors such as Farxiga.

The FDA changed Farxiga’s label to include a warning “about the risks of too much acid in the blood” and strongly advised patients taking any SGLT2 inhibitor to stop taking it and seek immediate medical help if they have any ketoacidosis symptoms.

The FDA reports the median time between the start of taking Farxiga and the onset of ketoacidosis symptoms was two weeks.

The Farxiga Adverse Side Effects Lawsuit is Case No. 1:17-cv-02717-LGS in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.