Invokamet side effects are to blame for a diabetes toe amputation, claims a woman who has filed suit against Johnson & Johnson and Janssen Pharmaceuticals.

Plaintiff Fannie D. took Invokamet from September 2015 through February 2016. After beginning treatment with Invokamet, Fannie claims, her Invokamet side effects became so severe she had to undergo a diabetes toe amputation of the fifth toe on her right foot.

Invokamet is a combination of Invokana (canagliflozin) and metformin HCI, allowing it to control blood sugar two different ways. Invokana is in a class of drugs known as SGLT2 inhibitors. These drugs work by enabling the kidneys to remove sugar from the body through the urine instead of that sugar becoming reabsorbed in the blood. Metformin is a drug that reduces the sugar production of the liver.

When Invokamet forces sugar to leave the body through urine, the drug is making the kidneys work harder. Diabetics already are at a higher risk for kidney disease than the rest of the population.

Invokamet Side Effects Allegedly Were Known

According to the Invokamet side effects lawsuit, the drug’s makers knew or should have known that there was a risk of amputation among diabetics taking Invokamet.

At the time Fannie was prescribed and taking Invokamet, she claims, the drug’s manufacturers did not warn the health care community or the public of the dangers.

A current look at Invokamet.com shows safety information that lists “Amputations” as the first serious side effect that is possible with the medication. If Fannie had known that diabetes toe amputation could have occurred by her ingestion of Invokamet, she says she never would have taken the drug in the first place.

Unfortunately, Fannie says she was not given that option. Her Invokamet side effects lawsuit alleges Johnson & Johnson and Janssen were negligent because they “had a duty to disclose to health care professionals the causal relationship or association of Invokamet to the development of” Fannie’s injuries.

The drug manufacturers stand accused of failing to properly and thoroughly testing Invokamet before it was introduced to market. Long-term results of ingesting Invokamet were unknown at the time of its release, Fannie claims.

Because of these failures, the Invokana drug lawsuit alleges there were inadequate warnings to the health care community and to consumers regarding “significant and dangerous risks of Invokamet and without proper instructions to avoid foreseeable harm.”

Fannie not only suffered a diabetes toe amputation but will also continue to need health care and services that will result in further medical bills. According to the Invokamet side effects lawsuit, she has suffered a diminished quality of life and has an increased risk of premature death. She alleges her pre-existing conditions were aggravated and new problems arose, adding more mental and physical pain to her suffering.

If you or someone you love has suffered a diabetes toe amputation or any adverse side effects from Invokamet or another Invokana-related drug, you could benefit from speaking with an attorney regarding your options for compensation.

The Invokamet Side Effects Lawsuit is Case No. 3:17-cv-09756-BRM-LHG and is part of the Invokana MDL In re: Invokana (canagliflozin) Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2750, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.