An Alabama woman who agreed to take a popular diabetes drug, Farxiga, blames the drug makers for her kidney damage and Farxiga ketoacidosis.

Plaintiff Susan C. says she began taking Farxiga to control her type-2 diabetes in December 2014. She did this to reduce her blood glucose levels and says that she relied on claims made by Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca that Farxiga is a safe and effective type-2 diabetes drug.

She alleges, instead, that the drug caused Farxiga ketoacidosis as well as acute renal failure to occur. This acute renal failure resulted in Susan being hospitalized from May 21, 2015 through June 2, 2015.

Susan claims that Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca knew or should have known that those who took their drug were at risk for conditions like Farxiga ketoacidosis and renal failure.

On May 15, 2015, right before Susan was hospitalized for acute renal failure, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a safety warning about the class of drugs that Farxiga is in regarding ketoacidosis.

What is Farxiga Ketoacidosis?

Farxiga ketoacidosis is a condition that occurs when the body deposits an excess of fatty acids known as ketones in the blood, often because it does not have enough insulin. When the body cannot metabolize these ketones, the excessive amounts of ketones may cause the blood’s pH to drop.

Farxiga ketoacidosis is a dangerous condition that should be treated immediately. Symptoms of Farxiga ketoacidosis can include excessive thirst and frequent urination, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, weakness and fatigue, shortness of breath and fruity scented breath.

When Faxiga ketoacidosis is not treated, it can be fatal.

Susan believes that her illness was preventable and was a direct result of the drug makers’ “failure and refusal to conduct proper safety studies, failure to properly assess and publicize alarming safety signals, the suppression of information revealing serious and life threatening risks, willful and wanton failure to provide adequate instructions, and willful misrepresentations concerning the nature and safety of Farxiga.”

Susan’s Farxiga ketoacidosis lawsuit alleges that the plaintiff would not have taken Farxiga had she or her doctors been aware of the risks for Farxiga ketoacidosis and acute renal failure.

She says she has suffered severe and permanent physical and emotional injuries, pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and economic loss including major expenses for future medical care and treatment.

The plaintiff is bringing forth claims of negligence, violation of the Alabama Deceptive Trade Practices Act, fraudulent misrepresentation, negligent misrepresentation, fraudulent concealment, breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty, fraud, design defect, failure to warn and negligent design.

This Farxiga Ketoacidosis Lawsuit is Case No. 4:17-cv-00823-KOB in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Northern Division.