Drug manufacturing giant Janssen Pharmaceuticals has been hit with a lawsuit alleging that the use of the diabetes medication Invokana causes kidney failure.

The plaintiff alleges that his kidney failure was so severe that it caused him to need a kidney transplant, according to the lawsuit. Additionally, the lawsuit states that more than 50 reports of kidney problems were made, with some patients reporting total kidney failure.

Other commonly reported adverse events reported after ingesting Invokana include dehydration, kidney stones and urinary tract infections, which sometimes developed in to kidney infections.

What is Invokana?

Invokana is a drug used to treat type-2 diabetes and is part of a class of oral diabetes medications called SGLT2 inhibitors. These SGLT2 inhibitor medications control blood sugar by blocking the reabsorption of glucose into the kidneys.

The medication works by causing the kidneys to excrete excess glucose from the body through the urine, thereby reducing blood sugar levels in the body.

Invokana is specifically used in patients with type-2 diabetes who suffer from insulin resistance. In such patients, the cells of the body are unable to convert glucose not energy. This leads to high blood sugar levels and long term degeneration of the body’s organs.

Kidney Problems and Kidney Failure

Because Invokana directly affects the kidneys and requires them to work harder, it is suspected that this may lead to the kidney problems and resultant kidney failure experienced by some patients.

Symptoms of kidney failure include:

• Blood pressure increase
• Chest pain or pressure
• Confusion
• Decreased amount of urine
• Drowsiness and fatigue
• Fluid retention, leading to swollen legs and feet, puffy eyes
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Pale skin
• Seizures
• Shortness of breath

Because the signs and symptoms of kidney failure are relatively nonspecific and can be linked to a number of conditions, sometimes it is difficult to diagnose. In many cases, only when there is significant failure of the kidneys and damage has started does a diagnosis get made.

Safety of Invokana Questioned

In late 2015, the FDA updated its labeling requirements for Invokana, requiring Janssen to include the new side effects that have been reported, specifically ketoacidosis and urinary tract infections.

The FDA also reported that 19 adverse event reports were received saying that what started out as a urinary tract infection in some individuals quickly developed into more resinous conditions.

These individuals had their urinary tract infections move into the kidneys, causing a kidney infection. Following the kidney infections, blood infections ensued.

The blood infections then required the patients to be hospitalized and placed on dialysis for kidney failure. Once the kidneys fail and are damaged, they are unable to be repaired. Thus, a kidney transplant was the only option for these patients.

Filing an Invokana Lawsuit

If you have developed kidney problems, kidney failure, or were required to undergo a kidney transplant and you suspect Invokana may have been implicated, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit to recover damages for your injury.

An experienced Invokana attorney can provide you with a free case review and can assist you in determining if you are eligible to file a lawsuit.