A woman from Tennessee has recently filed an Invokana lawsuit, alleging she had to undergo diabetic leg amputation due to the defective nature of the type-2 diabetes medication. This Invokana lawsuit is joining a growing multidistrict litigation (MDL), consisting of product liability claims from patients also alleging diabetic leg amputation.

Plaintiff Winifred B. filed this Invokana lawsuit soon after undergoing leg amputation, alleging Johnson & Johnson failed to warn her against this possibility. Like millions of other diabetic patients, Winifred was prescribed Invokana (canagliflozin) to treat her type-2 diabetes symptoms and to improve her quality of life.

Invokana is a part of the SGLT2 inhibitor drug family, which helps control blood sugar levels by signaling the kidneys to expel excess sugar through urination. If blood sugar levels get too high it may cause an insulin imbalance, which could lead to serious complications like diabetic ketoacidosis or diabetic leg amputation.

Combined with diet and exercise, Invokana was supposed to help Winifred live a life that was not inconvenienced by her type-2 diabetes. With these benefits in mind, Winifred says, she was prescribed Invokana in January 2014 and had taken the medication in accordance with prescription instructions and physician advice.

However just several months after starting her prescription, she reportedly had to undergo diabetic leg amputation.

Overview of Invokana Lawsuit

According to the Invokana lawsuit, Winifred had to undergo diabetic leg amputation on her left side on June 29, 2014. The part of the leg amputated was below the knee, which is consistent with severe diabetic symptoms.

Lower leg amputation sometimes becomes necessary for type-2 diabetes patients because ulcers and swelling can occur in the legs or feet, which causes nerve damage and severe pain. Diabetic leg amputation is necessary in severe cases, because it is often the only way to alleviate the pain and treat the ulcers.

This was allegedly the case with Winifred, who had to be hospitalized and undergo serious medical treatment. She filed this Invokana lawsuit, after learning that the FDA had issued a public warning that stated Invokana and other canagliflozin medications could increase the risk of diabetic leg amputation.

The FDA had made this announcement on May 16, 2017, with the agency stating it had confirmed an increase risk of diabetic lower limb amputations with canagliflozin medications. The FDA further stated that studies indicated that canagliflozin patients were twice as likely to undergo diabetic leg amputation than patients who were prescribed a placebo.

Even though diabetic leg amputation is a devastating complication for type-2 diabetes patients, Johnson & Johnson allegedly failed to warn the public against the possibility. Winifred states she would not have agreed to take Invokana, if she had been aware of the risk of diabetic leg amputation.

Winifred’s Invokana lawsuit is joining MDL No. 2750, where it will stand alongside other claims alleging similar injuries. By joining an MDL, Winifred’s Invokana lawsuit will be streamlined through the litigation process and will avoid potential problems like conflicting rulings from different judges.

Winifred’s Invokana lawsuit is seeking multiple damages, including counts of negligence and failure to warn.

This Invokana Lawsuit is Case No. 3:18-cv-09133-BRM-LHG, in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey.