Diabetes patients face an array of different medications that come with many different drug side effects.

The FDA wants patients to know that Invokana side effects may include ketoacidosis, a complication not typically associated with type 2 diabetes.

What Is Invokana?

Invokana, also known as canagliflozin, is a diabetes medication used in conjunction with diet and exercise to help adults with type 2 diabetes keep their blood sugar under control.  Some key facts about Invokana include:

• It is a type of diabetes medications known as a sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors, or SGLT2 inhibitors. These drugs lower blood sugar by stimulating the kidneys to remove glucose from the blood and excrete it in the urine.
• It has the same active ingredient used in the brand-name drug Invokamet, which combines it with the older diabetes medication metformin. Metformin uses a different mechanism of action that reduces the amount of glucose the patient absorbs from food and the amount of glucose produced by the liver.
• It is approved to treat only type 2 diabetes and is not approved as a treatment for type 1.

Invokana Side Effects

The most commonly reported Invokana side effects include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Unusual tiredness
• Loss of appetite
• Increased thirst

Additionally, according to a recent FDA warning, Invokana side effects may also include a life-threatening condition known as diabetic ketoacidosis.

What Is Diabetic Ketoacidosis?

Diabetic ketoacidosis is a serious, potentially life-threatening complication of diabetes that results from excessive acidity in the blood. Some facts about diabetic ketoacidosis are that:

• When cells can’t get enough glucose to use for energy, they use fat instead. This use of fat creates waste products called ketones, which are deposited in the bloodstream. An excess of ketones in the blood can make it too acidic – and that can put the patient at risk for coma or death.
• The condition is typically associated more with type 1 diabetes than with type 2.
• Ketoacidosis that may be a drug side effect of Invokana is not typical diabetic ketoacidosis.

In May 2015, the FDA issued a warning to alert doctors and patients to the possibility of ketoacidosis as a drug side effect of Invokana and other SGLT2 inhibitors. A search of the agency’s adverse event reporting system revealed several cases of ketoacidosis reported in patients taking SGLT2 inhibitors.

Ketoacidosis Symptoms

Typical ketoacidosis symptoms include:

• Excessive thirst and urination
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fatigue or sleepiness
• Abdominal pain (particularly in children)
• Rapid or deep breathing
• Fruity smelling breath (similar to nail polish remover)

The FDA recommends patients seek immediate medical attention if they notice any ketoacidosis symptoms. Diabetic ketoacidosis is a serious condition that can be deadly.

Who Has a Claim?

Invokana side effects like ketoacidosis may be grounds for a legal claim. Attorneys are investigating cases of ketoacidosis that may be associated with Invokana. Depending on the facts, some of these cases may lay the grounds for an Invokana lawsuit.

Patients who bring a successful Invokana lawsuit may be entitled to compensation for:

• Drug side effect injuries
• Pain and suffering
• Medical expenses
• Other losses

If you or a loved one has type 2 diabetes and suffered ketoacidosis after taking Invokana, you may be eligible for a free case evaluation.