Reports suggest that Onglyza side effects may include a risk of congestive heart failure greater than what patients were led to expect.

Onglyza (saxagliptin) is a type-2 diabetes medication which treats diabetes by lowering blood sugar levels. When used in combination with diet and exercise, Onglyza is supposed to help control high blood sugar. The drug was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in July 2009.

Onglyza belongs to a class of drugs called incretin mimetics. These drugs trigger chemical responses in the body that lead to insulin creation and secretion. Incretin mimetics are fairly new diabetes medications that gained popularity after a similar drug, Avandia, was removed from the market for a dramatic increase in risk of cardiac death.

After Avandia was recalled, doctors were on the lookout for a safer alternative for treating type-2 diabetes. Incretin mimetics held promise to replace Avandia, but new data suggests that incretin mimetics such as Onglyza may have unexpected cardiac side effects.

To help physicians find the best medication for their patients, Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca funded a study known as the SAVOR study. The SAVOR study was intended to monitor the outcomes of type-2 diabetes medications to see if a certain medication worked better for a certain group of patients.

In 2013, the SAVOR study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Researchers who worked on the study evaluated 16,492 type-2 diabetes patients. Data from the study showed that Onglyza side effects include heart failure resulting in hospitalization. The cases of heart failure were slightly more likely in patients taking Onglyza.

In April 2015, following the SAVOR study, an advisory committee to the FDA urged the agency to require Onglyza side effects information to include a warning about heart failure.

Heart failure occurs when the heart muscle is too weak to pump blood throughout the body. Conditions such as high blood pressure or coronary artery disease may weaken the heart, making it more susceptible to heart failure. Patients with heart failure often have to undergo significant lifestyle changes to manage the condition. Symptoms of heart failure include shortness of breath, swollen legs, and a rapid heartbeat.

Although the risk for heart failure related Onglyza side effects is not statistically significant, experts believe the potential relationship between Onglyza and heart failure should be further investigated.

Drug manufacturers already face multiple lawsuits over Onglyza side effects. These complaints aim to hold the drug manufacturers accountable for allegedly unwarned side effects including congestive heart failure, heart failure, cardiac failure, and death. An Onglyza lawsuit could potentially recover compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, wrongful death, and other damages caused by Onglyza side effects.

Legal experts are currently investigating whether manufacturers failed to offer an adequate warning about Onglyza side effects. If you or a loved one suffered from Onglyza side effects including heart failure, congestive heart failure, and cardiac failure, you may qualify to participate in this free Onglyza lawsuit investigation.