Heart side effects of Onglyza can be dangerous for type-2 diabetics taking the drug to control blood sugar levels.

Onglyza (saxagliptin), made by AstraZeneca, is an incretin-based therapy, and belongs to a new class of drugs called DPP-4 inhibitors. According to the FDA, heart side effects of Onglyza can include an increased risk of hospitalization for heart failure.

How Onglyza Works

Our bodies process food through a long chain of events. An enzyme called DPP-4 breaks down the incretin hormone GLP-1. After we eat, GLP-1 enters the bloodstream and alerts the pancreas to make insulin. People who have diabetes experience a reduction of GLP-1, which means the pancreas reduces its insulin production. The result is high blood sugar.

Onglyza inhibits DPP-4, allowing GLP-1 to stay active longer in the body. The GLP-1 is then able to encourage the pancreas to make more insulin. Onglyza also prevents the liver from creating too much glucose, a reduction that also helps lower overall blood sugar counts.

Heart Side Effects of Onglyza Discovered

In 2013, researchers wondered if Onglyza could offer any protection against heart ailments. Their study actually found that patients who took Onglyza had an increased risk for heart failure.

A study known as SAVOR (Saxagliptin Assessment of Vascular Outcomes Recorded in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus-Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction 53) saw a 27 percent increased risk of hospitalization due to heart failure for patients who took Onglyza. That study looked at nearly 16,500 patients.

Heart failure occurs when the heart pumps blood at an abnormally slow rate. A sluggish heart causes the body to become deficient in oxygen and nutrients. Over time, fluid retention leads to congestive heart failure.

The FDA warns that anyone who already has heart disease or kidney disease may be at increased risk of heart failure if they take Onglyza.

Patients with the following signs and symptoms of heart side effects of Onglyza should contact their doctor immediately:

• Unusual shortness of breath during daily activities
• Trouble breathing when lying down
• Tiredness, weakness, or fatigue
• Weight gain with swelling in the ankles, feet, legs or stomach

A doctor can determine heart failure through a variety of tests, including blood tests. A chest X-ray can allow the doctor to see if the heart looks enlarged, and fluid retention might be visible in the area around the lungs.

An electrocardiogram (ECG) can allow your doctor to determine any heart rhythm issues and possible damage from a heart attack, which could be indicative of heart failure. An echocardiogram can use sound waves to find valve problems, heart abnormalities and to determine if the heart is pumping as well as it should.

Other helpful diagnostics include a stress test, a CT, an MRI or a coronary angiogram.

Heart Side Effects of Onglyza Haven’t Hurt Sales

Onglyza was FDA-approved in 2009 and quickly gained popularity because it doesn’t cause weight gain like other diabetes treatments. In 2015, Onglyza racked up $786 million in sales. Some predictions show that by 2018, Onglyza’s sales could reach $2.47 billion annually.

If you have suffered heart side effects of Onglyza, you could be eligible for compensation through legal representation.