According to the American Diabetes Association type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. Invokana, or canagliflozin, is a popular treatment for type 2 diabetes.

However, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has strengthened its warnings about Invokana side effects, following reports about the increased risk of acute kidney side effects linked to the diabetes medication.

Reports of Kidney Problems & Other Invokana Side Effects

Invokana and other SGLT2 inhibitors force the kidneys to process excess glucose, which may be why so many kidney problems have been reported by people prescribed Invokana. The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) released a report in May, 2015 warning about adverse reactions being reported by patients prescribed Invokana.

Among the reported Invokana side effects, several involve kidney-related problems, including over 50 people suffering from kidney failure. Over 10 people developed kidney stones, 50 people in the study developed urinary tract infections.

Prior to approval by the FDA, clinical trials were conducted in 2013. Patients experienced increased onset of fungal infections, and studies in animals indicated that long-term use of the drug could lead to kidney side effects including kidney damage or failure, cancers, and bone abnormalities.

Janssen, the manufacturer of Invokana, has strong warnings to avoid the medication if you have existing kidney problems or are on dialysis.

FDA Strengthens Invokana Warning

On June 14, 2016, the FDA issued a Drug Safety Communication warning about the strengthened Invokana side effects label. The new warnings also affect drugs in the sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor class.

SGLT2 inhibitors, like Invokana, are given to patients with type 2 diabetes to lower the patient’s blood sugar levels by increasing the amount of sugar removed from the body via the patient’s urine.

When it made its announcement, the FDA noted that between March 2013 and October 2015, it received reports of 101 confirmable cases of acute kidney injury linked to drugs in the SGLT2 class.

Of those, some required hospitalization and dialysis. Because the FDA’s database only includes reports submitted to the FDA, the 101 confirmable cases are likely low compared with the number of cases overall.

Furthermore, according to the FDA, around half of the cases of acute kidney injury occurred within the first month of taking the medication. Many of the cases of kidney injury resolved after patients discontinued their medication.

Based on the reports of kidney injury, the FDA decided to revise the warnings on the Invokana side effects label (and the label of similar drugs) to alert patients to the risk of acute kidney injury and take precautions to minimize the risk.

Suffering from Invokana Side Effects?

Invokana side effects and complications have fueled a number of lawsuits in recent months, filed by patients who experienced serious physical harm after taking the medication.

Some claimants suffered severe and irreversible kidney problems while using the SGLT2 inhibitor.  Plaintiffs contend that they were not adequately warned about kidney side effects risks, and that safer diabetes drugs were available.

If you or a loved one was diagnosed with serious kidney side effects or problems while using Invokana, you may be able to file an Invokana lawsuit.