Joanna Szabo  |  February 14, 2022

Category: Diabetes

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A man holds his chest in pain.

Diabetes treatment drug saxagliptin, a key ingredient in branded prescription drugs, may come with serious Onglyza and Kombiglyze XR side effects.

These side effects can include heart failure, and are therefore potentially fatal.

Both Onglyza and Kombiglyze XR are diabetes treatment drugs that contain saxagliptin. While commonly used to treat diabetes, saxagliptin has been linked to serious heart problems, up to and including heart failure, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

What Are Onglyza and Kombiglyze XR?

Diabetes drug Kombiglyze XR contains metformin hydrochloride and saxagliptin, and Onglyza contains only saxagliptin.

Doctors prescribe these drugs to type-2 diabetes patients in order to help control diabetes. Patients are expected to exercise and maintain a healthy diet along with taking Onglyza or Kombiglyze XR.

Onglyza, approved by the FDA in 2009, is jointly manufactured by pharmaceutical giants Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca. The companies also manufacture Kombiglyze.

The popularity of these medications has risen in the last few years, in part because of the recall of another major diabetes drug, Avandia, which had been linked with an increased risk of cardiac death, per WebMD.

Essentially, saxagliptin works by stimulating the body to produce insulin, according to RxList, which helps the pancreas to assist in regulating type-2 diabetes patients’ blood sugar.

This class of drugs is called incretin mimetics, which work to control blood sugar levels by stimulating the production of insulin in the pancreas, according to Drugs.com.

However, even with the popularity and success of these drugs, some Onglyza and Kombiglyze XR side effects have been serious. In the worst instances, these side effects can even be deadly.

Onglyza and Kombiglyze XR Side Effects

A safety review found type-2 diabetes medicines that contain saxagliptin and alogliptin may increase the risk of heart failure, particularly for those patients who already have kidney or heart disease, according to a safety communication by the FDA.

A man in a white t-shirt and blue flannel shirt grabs his chest with his right hand, and a heartbeat graphic overlays the photo - Kombiglyze XR Side Effects

Drug makers AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb are behind a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2013. This study, known as the SAVOR study, found one of the side effects reported with saxagliptin was an increased risk of hospitalization due to heart failure.

The study, which looked at 16,492 type-2 diabetes patients, found Onglyza patients went to the hospital for heart failure more often than patients who took other medications to treat type-2 diabetes. Heart failure is a serious chronic condition that occurs when the heart is not able to pump enough blood to the body in order to meet the needs of the body.

It is not only medications such as Onglyza and Kombiglyze XR that can contribute to heart failure; other problems, such as coronary heart disease and high blood pressure, can contribute to the weakening of the heart and lead to heart failure.

While type-2 diabetes patients are already more likely to suffer from heart failure, the SAVOR study found patients taking saxagliptin drugs faced a slightly higher risk.

In 2015, the label was changed on Onglyza to reflect the possibility of heart failure after an FDA advisory committee requested that the federal agency require the change, according to Healio.

Signs of Heart Failure

If you suspect that you may be suffering from heart failure, it is recommended that you contact your medical professional immediately. You can look for certain signs. According to the Mayo Clinic, these signs of heart failure include:

  • Shortness of breath when lying down or exerting oneself
  • Reduced ability to exercise
  • Weakness, or fatigue
  • Swelling abdomen
  • Persistent cough or wheeze with white or pink phlegm tinged with blood

On top of heart failure, Onglyza users may also have to worry about cancer. Saxagliptin drugs have also been linked with an increased risk of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, according to the side effect information for Onglyza.

Filing an Onglyza or Kombiglyze XR Lawsuit

Some patients claim they were not adequately warned about the risk of these side effects prior to taking a saxagliptin drug.

If you or someone you love has experienced Onglyza or Kombiglyze XR side effects such as heart failure, you may be eligible to take legal action.

Of course, filing a lawsuit cannot undo the pain and suffering caused by heart failure or other complications, nor can it bring a loved one back to life, but it may be able to at least alleviate the financial burden caused by medical expenses, lost wages, and more.

Filing a lawsuit can be a daunting prospect, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with an experienced attorney.

Speaking with an experienced attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.

Free Onglyza Lawsuit or Kombiglyze Lawsuit Review

Did you or a loved one suffer heart failure, cardiac failure, congestive heart failure or death after taking Onglyza or Kombiglyze XR? If so, you may be eligible to join a FREE Onglyza lawsuit and Kombiglyze lawsuit investigation and pursue compensation for your injuries. Fill out the form on this page to see if you qualify!

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Join a Free Onglyza Lawsuit or Kombiglyze XR Lawsuit Investigation

If you have been injured or if you lost a loved one due to Onglyza side effects or Kombiglyze XR side effects such as heart failure, cardiac failure, or congestive heart failure, you may have a legal claim. See if you qualify to pursue compensation and join a free Onglyza or Kombiglyze XR investigation by submitting your information for a free case evaluation.

An attorney will contact you if you qualify to discuss the details of your potential case.

PLEASE NOTE: If you want to participate in this investigation, it is imperative that you reply to the law firm if they call or email you. Failing to do so may result in you not getting signed up as a client or getting you dropped as a client.

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