Recent studies have found that the type-2 diabetes medication Onglyza may be linked to an increased risk of heart failure.

In a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers analyzed nearly 16,500 type-2 diabetic patients who were taking either Onglyza or a placebo.

The study found that those consumers taking Onglyza increased their risk of heart failure by 27 percent when compared with those patients taking the placebo.

This study, along with the clinical trial data provided by Onglyza manufacturers AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb, has led to a U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommendation that the diabetes medication should carry a warning about heart failure as a potential side effect.

Onglyza Health Risks

Onglyza was approved by the FDA to treat diabetes in 2009 and quickly became a widely prescribed treatment. In 2012, Onglyza had revenue of $700 million and analysts predict that by 2018 the drug will have a total profit of $2.47 billion.

The type-2 diabetes drug works by increasing the incretin hormones to stimulate the release of insulin. Based on its ability to increase insulin without causing weight gain, Onglyza is a commonly prescribed diabetic treatment.

However, consumers have reported several serious health risks linked to Onglyza including heart failure. In April, the FDA began warning patients of the increased risk of heart failure.

Symptoms of heart failure include:

• Dyspnea (difficulty breathing or painful breathing)
• Rapid weight gain
• Swelling of the abdomen or legs
• Edema (fluid retention)
• Fatigue

Studies indicate that other complications may include thyroid cancer and pancreatic cancer.

Numerous studies have linked incretin mimetic drugs like Onglyza to an increased risk of thyroid cancer. UCLA researchers found that an incretin mimetic drug marketed under the name Byetta carries a five-times greater risk of developing thyroid cancer as a side effect of the medication.

In addition, other studies have discovered a link between Onglyza and pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis.  In a study performed at Johns Hopkins, researchers found that diabetic patients hospitalized for pancreatitis were twice as likely to be taking an incretin mimetic drug like Onglyza at the time they were admitted.

In a tudy performed in 2013, researchers analyzed the autopsies of diabetic patients and found that those taking an incretin mimetic had a pancreas that was 40 percent larger than normal. The study also discovered that those patients on incretin mimetic drugs had pre-cancerous cell growth and small tumors in the pancreas.

Onglyza Lawsuits

As research continues to surface suggesting a link between Onglyza and life-threatening side effects including heart failure, patients are choosing to file lawsuits  against the manufacturer for allegedly failing to adequately warn of the risks.

Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed by plaintiffs seeking financial compensation for the medical costs of treating side effects as well as the pain and suffering they have endured. Contact an attorney to find out if you have a legal claim.