For the last six years, Onglyza (saxagliptin) has been a revolutionary drug in the management of type-2 diabetes.

When paired with diet and exercise, Onglyza has been able to help certain patients manage their blood sugar successfully when other methods have failed.

One of the promising aspects of Onglyza is its ability to effectively lower blood sugar to bring it to stable levels without causing hypoglycemia as many other oral type-2 diabetes medications do.

Also, patients taking Onglyza do not experience as much weight gain as some patients do when taking other type-2 diabetes medications.

However, while these advances in diabetes medication seem promising, the medication is not without Onglyza adverse side effects.

Common Side Effects with Onglyza Use

As with any medication, Onglyza comes with its own set of side effects. Many of the side effects associated with Onglyza are mild and tend to dissipate after the body adjusts to the new medication.

These side effects include:

• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Upper respiratory infections
• Urinary tract infections
• Stuffy or runny nose
• Fluid retention and swelling
• Sore throat
• Headache

While prescribing Onglyza, most physicians feel the risks of such side effects are outweighed by the benefits of the medication and its management of type-2 diabetes.

Serious Onglyza Adverse Side Effects

Serious Onglyza adverse side effects are also reported and are cause for concern. More patients and their doctors are seeing concerning side effects related to pancreatic function and cardiac function.

Specifically, some patients taking Onglyza have been diagnosed with pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. It is hypothesized since Onglyza works directly by stimulating the pancreas, changes in pancreatic cells may result. Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas and can be a precursor to pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is a very serious side effect because it is typically associated with poor outcomes. Pancreatic cancer is usually only diagnosed in its later stages since the early signs and symptoms of the disease are very nonspecific.

It is not until the disease has advanced that pancreatic cancer is typically considered as a diagnosis. Pancreatic cancer has a poor prognosis and treatment outcomes are less favorable for pancreatic cancer as compared to other cancers.

Additionally, heart failure has been associated with Onglyza use. Heart failure is not to be confused with heart attack. Heart failure is a condition where the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body’s demands.

The FDA is aware of the Onglyza adverse side effects relating to problems with the pancreas as well as heart failure.

The agency issued a warning in 2011 regarding an increased risk of pancreatitis associated with Onglyza use; in April 2015, it issued a warning that patients taking Onglyza had an increased risk of developing heart failure.

The FDA has not issued a warning for an increased risk of pancreatic cancer associated with ongoing Onglyza use, saying there is insufficient evidence to support the claim at this point.

Filing an Onglyza Adverse Side Effects Lawsuit

If you or a loved one has suffered Onglyza adverse side effects as a result of using the diabetes drug, you may be entitled to compensation for your injury. An Onglyza attorney can review your case at no charge and can help you decide if taking legal action against the manufacturer of Onglyza is right for you.