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Many patients with type-2 diabetes are treated with saxagliptin medications, including Onglyza. However, recent research has shown that patients taking saxagliptin drugs may face an increased risk of developing major Onglyza side effects, including heart failure.

Basics of Onglyza Medication

Onglyza is a popular type-2 diabetes medication jointly manufactured by pharmaceutical giants Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca. The drug was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in July 2009 and is also sold under the generic name saxagliptin.

The companies also developed Kombiglyze XR, which includes saxagliptin and metformin and was approved in 2010. Other saxagliptin-based medications include Qtern and Qternmet.

Saxagliptin drugs like Onglyza belong to a group of medications known as incretin mimetics, which work to help the blood sugar levels of type-2 diabetes patients by stimulating insulin production in the pancreas in response to a meal. Without these or other diabetes drugs, diabetic patients do not have enough insulin to control their blood glucose levels. These drugs are used, along with diet and exercise, to control blood sugar level in adults with type-2 diabetes.

Drugs in this class have become popular only recently, particularly due to the recall of another major diabetes drug, Avandia, which was linked to an increased risk of cardiac death. Now, after the Avandia recall in particular, experts are even more aware of potential heart risks and other major complications associated with diabetes drugs.

Onglyza Side Effects

Unfortunately, the use of Onglyza has also been linked to a few major side effects—and some patients claim they were not adequately warned about these risks prior to taking the drug. As a condition of the drug’s approval, the FDA required that its manufacturers conduct long-term cardiovascular outcomes trials (CVOTs).

Indeed, a recent study funded by the drug’s own manufacturers found that Onglyza — and Kombiglyze XR, a similar diabetes drug that also includes saxagliptin — had a higher rate of hospitalizations due to heart failure. The study, known as the SAVOR study, was published in 2013 in the New England Journal of Medicine, and looked at more than 16,000 type-2 diabetes patients. Researchers found that Onglyza patients were slightly more likely to suffer from heart failure and be hospitalized.

The FDA released a safety communication about this risk. “A safety review has found that type-2 diabetes medicines containing saxagliptin and alogliptin may increase the risk of heart failure, particularly in patients who already have heart or kidney disease,” the federal agency noted.

Heart failure is a serious chronic condition that leads to the heart muscle being unable to pump a sufficient amount of blood for the body to function as normal. Heart failure is a life-threatening condition, but even patients who survive may experience lasting problems because of symptoms that remain. Patients may need to do a number of things to manage symptoms and reduce their risk of future heart problems, including change their diet, exercise, lose weight, or better manage their stress.

While type-2 diabetes patients are already more likely to suffer from heart failure, the SAVOR study found that patients taking Onglyza or Kombiglyze XR were even slightly more at risk.

In April 2015, an FDA advisory committee asked that the agency require the drug’s manufacturers to include information about the risk of heart failure on the drug’s warning label.

Signs of Onglyza heart failure include:

• Unusual shortness of breath
• Trouble breathing while prone
• Tiredness, weakness, or fatigue
• Weight gain and swelling in the ankles, feet, legs, or stomach

Onglyza has also been linked to an increased risk of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is a life threatening condition which can quickly become fatal.

Filing an Onglyza Lawsuit

A growing number of patients are filing lawsuits against Bristol-Myers Squibb over serious saxagliptin complications, including heart failure.

If you or a loved one has suffered from Onglyza side effects, such as heart failure or other cardiovascular issues, you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation. While filing a lawsuit cannot undo the pain and suffering caused by Onglyza side effects, it can at least help to alleviate the financial burden caused by medical expenses, lost wages, and more.

Pursuing litigation can be a daunting prospect, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.