Onglyza (saxagliptin) is a drug used to treat type-2 diabetes. However, this new to market oral type-2 diabetes medication has been linked with a host of Onglyza side effects, ranging from mild to severe and life-threatening.

Onglyza belongs to a newer category of drugs called DPP-4 inhibitors. It interferes with GLP-1, a substance that occurs naturally in the body, and prohibits its breakdown. GLP-1 is then able to be retained by the body and blood sugars are only elevated when needed, not indiscriminately like older diabetes medications had done.

Physicians found the drug to be a breakthrough in diabetes management because the drug was able to quickly and effectively stabilize blood sugar without causing hypoglycemia in patients who had previously been difficult to treat due to their lack of response to other diabetic drugs.

Common Onglyza Side Effects

As with any prescription or over the counter medication, Onglyza comes with a host of potential side effects. Many are mild and disappear with time. These Onglyza side effects include, upper respiratory infections, nausea, vomiting, swelling, fluid retention, stuffy or runny nose, headache, sore throat and diarrhea. Most physicians feel the benefits of prescribing Onglyza outweigh the common side effects the drug poses.

Serious Onglyza Side Effects

Several serious Onglyza side effects have also been reported with the use of the diabetes medication that bear mentioning. Heart failure, pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer have all been reported as a side effect of Onglyza use. Of these three conditions, pancreatic cancer is one of the most potentially deadly side effects.

Pancreatic Cancer Symptoms

One of the most difficult issues with pancreatic cancer is that it is very difficult to diagnose in its early stages. Pancreatic cancer may have virtually no symptoms early on and is often referred to as a silent killer.

The symptoms of pancreatic cancer are usually not known until the cancer has spread to other areas in the body. The symptoms produced at this later stage depend on the location of the cancer within the pancreas.

Cancer found in the head of the pancreas causes the following symptoms:

• Jaundice
• Itching
• Nausea/vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Weight loss
• Dark urine
• Light stools
• Enlarged neck lymph nodes
• Cancer found in the body or tail of the pancreas causes the following symptoms:
• Weight loss
• Back pain
• Abdominal pain

Pancreatic Cancer Prognosis

The prognosis for individuals suffering from pancreatic cancer is best for those individuals who have been diagnosed at an early stage. Since many patients are not diagnosed until later stages, however, the prognosis is poor. With chemotherapy and medical treatment for pancreatic cancer, an individual may live an addition 6-12 months. If it is untreated at the time of diagnosis, a patient typically lives a median of 3.5 months.

Pancreatic Cancer Survival Rate

According to information published by the American Cancer Society, the one-year relative survival rate for pancreatic cancer is 20%. The five-year pancreatic cancer survival rate is 4%. The survival rates are so low because at the time of diagnosis, less than 20% of pancreatic cancer cases are localized to just the pancreas and the cancer has already spread to the lymph nodes and other parts of the body.

Filing an Onglyza Pancreatic Cancer Lawsuit

If you or a loved one suffered severe Onglyza side effects such as pancreatic cancer, you may be eligible to file a legal claim. An Onglyza attorney can review your case at no charge and can help you understand the legal options available to you.