Johnson & Johnson is facing a growing multidistrict litigation (MDL), consisting of product liability claims alleging serious drug complications like Invokana toe amputations.

One of the most recently filed claims comes from a man from Florida, who alleges he had to undergo several Invokana toe amputations due to the drug failing in its treatment mechanism.

Plaintiff Coley B. is filing this Invokana lawsuit, alleging there were safer type-2 diabetes medications he could have been prescribed, avoiding Invokana toe amputations. According to the claim, Coley had been prescribed Invokana in March 2017 and was supposed to use it in conjunction with diet and exercise.

Invokana is a part of the sodium-glucose contransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor drug family, which work by signaling the body to expel excess sugar through urination. Type-2 diabetes is a medical condition that makes blood sugar levels increase to an unhealthy level.

If the body’s tissue can’t get enough sugar from the blood, it may be forced to metabolize fat instead of sugar and makes the blood very acidic. This causes a build up of ketones, or blood acids, in the body and can result in ketoacidosis, permanent kidney damage, kidney disease, and even death.

Invokana is prescribed to millions of type-2 diabetes patients to help prevent this outcome and other diabetic symptoms, including the formation of foot ulcers and lower leg swellings. But this has allegedly not been the case for many patients.

According to the Invokana lawsuit, Coley had to undergo several Invokana toe amputations just months after starting his prescription. The first amputation reportedly occurred on July 19, 2017, in which Coley had to undergo amputation of the distal and middle of the right second toe. The second amputation reportedly occurred on Sept. 22, 2017, in which the proximal phalanx of the right second toe.

Coley says he has been forced to contend with the ongoing type-2 diabetes medical treatment, and has reportedly suffered a diminished quality of life due to the Invokana toe amputations. Coley opted to file legal action against Johnson & Johnson, after discovering the FDA recently issue a warning regarding potential Invokana lower limb amputations on May 16, 2017.

Overview of Invokana Amputation Problems

Diabetic limb amputation is sometimes necessary for type-2 diabetes patients, due to the formation of ulcers, water retention, or nerve damage. With these complications, type-2 diabetes lower limb amputations sometimes become necessary for the patient’s health.

However, the FDA has recently confirmed that patients taking in canagliflozin medications like Invokana face a greater risk of Invokana toe amputations and other lower limb amputations. The FDA issued this warning after studies indicated canagliflozin patients were twice as likely to undergo lower limb amputations compared to patients who were prescribed a placebo.

At this point, the FDA and other health officials are not sure if these amputations are occurring because of Invokana’s defective nature or other outlying complications.

Either way, Johnson & Johnson allegedly failed to warn patients against Invokana tow amputations even though it posed serious health risks. Coley states he would not have agreed to take the medication, if he had known about the increased risk of Invokana toe amputations.

Coley’s Invokana lawsuit is joining MDL No. 2750, where it will stand alongside other claims alleging Invokana toe amputations.

This Invokana Lawsuit is Case No. 3:18-cv-10194-BRM-LHG, in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey