Tasigna cardiac side effects can be potentially fatal for patients, so they should be wary of any unusual symptoms after starting the cancer drug.

Tasigna is a chemotherapy drug used to treat chronic myeloid leukemia, and was approved by the FDA in 2007 with black box warnings regarding serious side effects. Atherosclerosis was not one of them at the time the drug was first approved, and it was only added after the studies indicated patients may be at risk for Tasigna cardiac side effects.

Tasigna cardiac side effects came under public scrutiny when close to a dozen studies found that the popular chemotherapy drug could cause cardiovascular problems.

The first major study to observe Tasigna cardiac side effects was published in 2011. This study reportedly found that patients faced an increased risk of chronic cardiovascular problems. More specifically, the study found that 25 percent of Tasigna patients developed cardiovascular problems and 16 percent of people suffered peripheral artery disease.

Just two years later, nine other scientific inquiries observing Tasigna cardiac side effects had found similar results. One of these studies was a post market review from the FDA, with the agency stating its findings had “strongly suggest an association between nilotinib (Tasigna) and PAOD (peripheral arterial occlusive disease).”

After the FDA announced these results, atherosclerosis was added to the list of potential Tasigna cardiac side effects to the medication’s warning label.

Overview of Tasigna Cardiac Side Effects

Atherosclerosis is a condition that occurs when the artery walls thicken and harden due to plaque buildup causing the arteries to narrow and compromising the circulation process. Patients who suffer from atherosclerosis are at an increased risk of embolic occlusion, heart attack, stroke, infection, amputation, and even death.

If not treated, this can evolve into peripheral artery disease (PAD), which can cause circulation problems in the hips and legs. Patients typically feel pain with physical activities and experience fatigue easily. PAD is often not diagnosed by medical professionals until after it progresses to a dangerous stage.

Another condition linked with Tasigna cardiac side effects is coronary artery disease. These arteries directly supply blood to the heart, which means coronary artery disease can cause problems like chest pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue.

Both PAD and CAD are caused by the buildup of plaque and can cause blood clots to form, which can lead to heart attack or stroke. Tasigna patients who experience these symptoms should speak to their doctor as soon as possible to help prevent the cardiovascular damage from getting worse.

Even though these problems can be potentially fatal to patients, Novartis may not have adequately disclosed this information to the public. Several Tasigna lawsuits have already been filed alleging that Novartis either knew or should have known about the potential Tasigna cardiac side effects.

Patients who develop Tasigna cardiac side effects may be eligible to file a product liability claim against Novartis for allegedly failing to warn them against the potential side effects against the medication. Potential claimants may be able to seek damages for negligence and failure to warn, which can help with their medical expenses.