Qtern side effects may include a rare type of necrotizing fasciitis known as Fournier’s gangrene.

Qtern is a combination drug made up of dapagliflozin and saxagliptin and is classified as a sodium glucose transporter 2 (SGT2) inhibitor for the treatment of adult onset diabetes.

According to Everyday Health, Qtern works in two ways to control diabetes. Dapagliflozin alerts the kidneys to get rid of excess glucose instead of sending it back into the bloodstream for re-absorption. Saxagliptin attempts to control the amount of insulin produced by the pancreas in response to food eaten.

Qtern, as well as other diabetes medications, belonging to the SGLT2 inhibitor class are very popular modern tools in treating type-2 diabetes today.

Qtern Side Effects

The elimination of excess sugars through the urine output can set a patient up for a rare type of gangrene that may be among Qtern side effects. Fournier’s gangrene is a type of flesh-eating bacteria that attacks the perineum—the region between the anus and scrotum or between the anus and vulva, depending upon the gender of the patient.

The setup for this rare but life-threatening invasion may happen because bacteria are attracted to and feed off of the excess sugar in a diabetic patient’s urine.

Nevertheless, according to Live Science, Qtern side effects involving necrotizing fasciitis are not likely to take hold unless there is some type of compromise such as a cut or tear in the rectal or scrotal area. This provides a point of entry for the disease.

Fournier’s gangrene is rare, but its connection to SGLT2 inhibitors has been noted in a dozen cases by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This has given the agency cause to require a warning on all drugs of this class.

Live Science indicates that the 12 cases reported to the medication oversight agency involved hospitalization. One of the 12 patients succumbed to the infection and passed away. An official FDA warning was released on Aug. 29, 2018.

The problem with this type of infection is how quickly it can eat through tissue and affect an entire genital region or even enter the body and become systemic. Systemic infection is the most dangerous development as it is difficult for doctors to control.

What are the Symptoms of Fournier’s Gangrene?

The first symptoms a diabetic might experience if they have contracted Fournier’s gangrene might just be a general malaise and slight fever. Additionally, any kind of swelling, itching, or pain in the genital region should be taken seriously and followed up on by a physician.

No drug should be removed entirely without seeking the advice of the prescribing doctor first, however. The out-of-control blood sugar that is part and parcel of type-2 diabetes can do significant damage and the everyday risk might be far greater.

If treatment for gangrene is necessary, it will involve surgical removal of dead and infected tissue to control the spread and use of powerful antibiotics.

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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