A growing number of patients are filing lawsuits against drug manufacturers over a few key Invokana adverse effects. Common side effects of Invokana included in these lawsuits are ketoacidosis and lower limb amputation.

Invokana Background

Invokana (also known by its generic name, canagliflozin) was first introduced to the drug market in 2013 and is manufactured by Janssen, a prominent subsidiary of pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson. Invokana is one of several major diabetes drugs known as sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors.

SGLT2 inhibitor drugs like Invokana are part of a relatively new class of diabetes drugs, but have grown rapidly in popularity. Other canagliflozing drugs are marketed as Invokamet and Invokamet XR.

Despite the popularity of these new diabetes drugs, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received a number of adverse event reports regarding common side effects of Invokana and has since required Janssen to add a series of warnings to the Invokana label about these risks.

Invokana Adverse Effects

There is a slew of common side effects of Invokana reported in lawsuits, from kidney failure to heart attacks. A current investigation is now focusing on reports of amputation and ketoacidosis.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has confirmed that patients taking Invokana or other canagliflozin medications face an increased risk of leg, toe, knee, and foot amputations. The FDA has since required that canaglizlofzin drug labels include a boxed warning to describe this risk.

Another of the common side effects of Invokana is ketoacidosis, a condition in which the body produces excess levels of blood acids. Symptoms of ketoacidosis include difficulty breathing, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, confusion, and unusual fatigue or sleepiness.

Canagliflozin drugs included in the investigation are:

• Invokana (canagliflozin)
• Invokamet (canagliflozin metformin)
• Invokamet XR (canagliflozin and metformin hydrochloride extended-release)

Filing an Invokana Adverse Effects Lawsuit

Invokana lawsuits claim that the drug’s manufacturers failed to adequately warn about the risk of serious Invokana adverse effects like lower limb amputation and diabetic ketoacidosis, as well as other common side effects of Invokana.

If you or someone you love has suffered due to these Invokana adverse effects, you may be able to file a lawsuit. While filing a lawsuit cannot reverse the side effects of Invokana or other canagliflozin drugs, pursuing an Invokana lawsuit can help to alleviate the financial burden caused by medical expenses and lost wages.

The Invokana adverse effects investigation is focusing on patients who have suffered from Invokana amputations, and patients who began taking Invokana prior to 2015 and diagnosed with ketoacidosis no later than January 2016.