Invokana, a diabetes medication used to lower blood sugar in patients with type 2 diabetes, has been linked with some alarming side effects such as Invokana kidney failure.

What is Invokana?

Patients newly prescribed Invokana, or family members of people taking the medication, may wonder what is Invokana? Invokana medication is used, along with diet and exercise, to lower the blood sugar of adult type 2 diabetes patients.

The medication belongs to a new class of drugs approved specifically to treat type 2 diabetes, not type 1. While Invokana is only officially approved to treat type 2 diabetes, it is often prescribed “off-label” to those with type 1 diabetes. The drug’s maker has tried to get FDA approval for Invokana to treat type 1 diabetes patients, but the FDA has not granted the request thus far.

Invokana belongs to a class of drugs known as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors.

SGLT2 inhibitors like Invokana remove glucose from the body by way of the kidneys. Kidneys, when working naturally, reabsorb filtered glucose from the blood and return it to the bloodstream. It is an SGLT2 inhibitor’s job to stop this reabsorption, which ultimately lowers the body’s levels of glucose.

Invokana Related Medication

Other medications in the SGLT2 inhibitor family include Invokamet, Metformin, and Canagliflozin.

Side Effects of Invokana Medication

Potential side effects of Invokana medication and related medications include, but are not limited to:

• Dehydration (dizziness, lightheadedness)
• Vaginal yeast infection
• Yeast infection of the penis
• Low blood sugar
• Serious allergic reaction
• Kidney problems, including kidney failure

Invokana Kidney Failure

Invokana kidney failure is a serious side effect of Invokana medication. It occurs when kidneys stop functioning.

Kidney failure is an extreme risk, and should be treated immediately. Without proper kidney function, the waste products, fluids, and electrolytes that would normally be filtered and regulated by the kidneys build up in the body.

Symptoms of Invokana kidney failure include:

• Jaundice
• Nausea
• Vomiting and abdominal pain
• Confusion, disorientation, problems concentrating
• Sleepiness
• Abnormal heart rhythms
• Shortness of breath
• Sudden death

Sometimes, simply stopping the medication can return kidney function to normal. Other times, further treatment is necessary.

Invokana kidney failure can be life threatening, so it is important to be aware of the symptoms and seek medical attention immediately if any of the symptoms present. Realted medications such as invokamet and metformin can cause similar symptoms, which should likewise be treated immediately.

Invokana Kidney Failure Lawsuits

If you or someone you love has suffered from significant Invokana side effects, including Invokana kidney failure, you may be able to file an Invokana side effects lawsuit. Pursuing a lawsuit could result in financial compensation that would help with medical expenses and lost wages, as well as emotional and physical suffering.