The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning regarding Fournier’s Gangrene, a rare but dangerous bacterial infection that has been reported with the use of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, a class of type-2 diabetes medication.

The FDA’s August 2018 announcement stated that 12 cases of Fournier’s Gangrene had been reported between March 2013 and May 2018 in patients taking SGLT2 inhibitors. While it has been thought that Fournier’s Gangrene was much more likely to occur in men, five of the 12 reported cases were women.

The necrotizing fasciitis bacteria developed within months of the patients starting SGLT2 inhibitors as part of their type-2 diabetes treatment plans. All patients were hospitalized and required surgeries, some of which were disfiguring. Several patients required multiple surgeries after developing complications. One patient died.

The FDA announced that prescribing information and patient medication guides for SLGT2 inhibitors like Invokamet and Invokamet XR will now be required to include a warning about the risks of Fournier’s gangrene.

Diabetes Drugs

SGLT2 inhibitors are an FDA-approved class of type-2 diabetes medication intended to lower blood sugar in adults. They function by causing the kidneys to filter and remove sugar from the body through urine. The sugary urine can cause side effects such as yeast infections, and may also play a part in attracting the necrotizing fasciitis bacteria to that part of the body.

Medications in this category include:

● Farxiga
● Glyxambi
● Invokamet and Invokamet XR
● Invokana
● Jardiance
● Qtern
● Stegluromet
● Steglatro
● Steglujan
● Synjardy and Synjardy XR
● Xigduo XR

Almost all of the above drugs, like Invokamet and Invokamet XR, have all been associated with necrotizing fasciitis bacteria. As the active chemical in Stegluromet, Steglatro, and Steglujan is the newest SGLT2 inhibitor to be approved, there is insufficient research to link those drugs to the bacterial infection at this point. However, the FDA has stated that they are expected to have the same risks as other SGLT2 inhibitors.

Fournier’s Gangrene, a necrotizing fasciitis bacteria infection of the perineum, is a rare and serious condition that affects the tissue under the skin that surrounds muscles, nerves, fat, and blood vessels. The bacteria enters the body through cuts on the skin. Once inside, it quickly spreads and begins to infect and destroy healthy tissue.

Symptoms of Fournier’s Gangrene include tenderness, redness, or swelling of the genitals, as well as the area from the genitals to the rectum. Other symptoms may include a fever above 100.4, or a general feeling of being unwell. As necrotizing fasciitis bacteria can spread quickly and become life-threatening, it is recommended to seek immediate medical attention if you believe you may be suffering from an infection.

Treatment for Fournier’s Gangrene may include antibiotics, the removal of dead tissue from the site of infection, surgery, or skin grafting.

If you have type-2 diabetes and have taken an SGLT2 inhibitor such as Invokamet and Invokamet XR, you may be eligible to join a class action lawsuit investigation if you have suffered from a necrotizing fasciitis bacteria infection.

Join a Free Diabetes Medications & Flesh-Eating Infection Lawsuit Investigation

The type-2 diabetes medications linked to the flesh-eating infection include:

• Invokana
• Invokamet/Invokamet XR
• Farxiga
• Xigduo XR
• Qtern
• Jardiance
• Glyxambi
• Synjardy/Synjardy XR
• Steglato
• Segluromet
• Steglujan

If you or a loved one took one of the type-2 diabetes medications listed above and suffered from a flesh-eating genital infection, you may qualify to join this diabetes medication lawsuit investigation. Fill out the FREE form on this page for more information.

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