The amputation of toes due to diabetes is a problem many patients face, which is why these patients rely on diabetes medications.

Medication has allegedly failed to prevent amputation for many patients prescribed Invokana, many of whom had to undergo amputation of toes due to diabetes or treatment for diabetic ketoacidosis.

This has spurred legal action against the drug manufacturer Johnson & Johnson, with the company facing a growing multidistrict litigation (MDL) alleging serious Invokana complications. One of the most recent claims of Invokana complications comes from an Ohio man, alleging he had to undergo amputation of toes due to diabetes and that the medication failed to prevent the loss of his toes.

Plaintiff James H. had been prescribed Invokana for typical treatment purposes, and had used the medication as intended to treat his diabetes. Even with his diligence, James eventually had to have the big toe on his left foot amputated and had to undergo a transmetatarsal amputation on his right foot.

Invokana is a member of the SGLT2 inhibitor medication class, which works by expelling excess sugar through urination. It can help keep blood sugar levels under control, but it has also been implicated in many cases of ketoacidosis and amputation.

According to the Invokana lawsuit, James had used the medication as according to physician advice and prescription instructions. He claims that at no point in time did the company warn James or his physician that lower extremity amputation could be linked to Invokana complications.

James opted to file legal action after discovering other patients also had to undergo amputation of toes due to diabetes that was allegedly linked to Invokana.

Overview of Invokana Complications

Invokana is one of the most popular type-2 diabetes medications. It is supposed to help prevent diabetic symptoms by preventing blood sugar levels from getting too high. In addition, Invokana is also supposed to help reduce the chances of lower limb amputation, which is the most prevalent amputation risk in type-2 diabetes patients.

It has recently been discovered, however, that amputation risk from Invokana and Invokamet are most prevalent in type-2 diabetes patients suffering from nerve damage, peripheral vascular disease, or diabetic foot ulcers.

The FDA officially warned about this correlation on May 16, 2017, stating that the agency has concluded that medications with canagliflozin increased the risk of lower limb amputations. The FDA is requiring new warnings to be added to canagliflozin drug labels, including Invokana, Invokamet, and Invokamet XR.

The FDA further stated that patients taking canagliflozin medications should be wary of foot or lower leg tenderness and to contact their physicians immediately if it occurs. Even though amputation of toes due to diabetes is a very serious concern, Johnson & Johnson allegedly failed to include this possibility on the Invokana warning label.

James is filing his Invokana lawsuit in MDL No. 2750, where it will stand alongside other claims alleging similar injuries. James claims he never would have agreed to take the diabetes medication if he had known about potential dangers of Invokana use.

This Invokana Lawsuit is Case No. 3:17-cv-11402-BRM-LHG, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.