Prescribing physicians are currently being warned about the risk of Onglyza heart failure after a study published by the New England Journal of Medicine found that patients may face a slightly increased likelihood of potentially fatal cardiac complications.

This 2013 SAVOR study consisted of 16,000 patients, with scientists finding Onglyza had a slightly higher likelihood of heart failure.

According to the Onglyza study, approximately 3.5 percent of patients taking Onglyza had to be hospitalized for heart failure while only 2.8 percent of placebo patients needed this treatment.

Overall, the study found that Onglyza patients faced a 27 percent greater risk of hospitalization for heart failure as well as other causes of death.

In April 2015, an FDA advisory committee had urged the agency to require Onglyza manufacturers AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals and Bristol Myers Squibb to include warnings regarding potential heart failure on the drug’s warning label.

The FDA added Onglyza heart failure to the warning label in April 2016 with the federal agency asking that patients and medical care professionals report any instances of cardiac complications to the FDA’s MedWatch program.

Overview of Onglyza Drug Side Effects

Onglyza (saxagliptin) is part of the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor drug family, also known as incretin mimetics, which work by helping the body maintain healthy insulin levels.

These medications work by signaling the body to make more insulin after eating a meal, which helps prevent blood sugar levels from getting too high.

Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors increase incretin activity levels, which prevents glucagon from being released. This allows for more insulin to be released while slowing gastric processes and reducing blood sugar levels.

The drug Onglyza has been on the market since 2009, however, the FDA initially had reservations about the drug’s preclinical trials and ordered AstraZeneca to conduct a post-market study to see cardiac injury rates, which led to the SAVOR study.

It is important to note that type-2 diabetes patients are already at an increased risk of heart failure, with statics finding that 50 percent of patients developing heart failure or coronary artery disease.

Heart failure is a condition in which the cardiac muscle becomes unable to pump blood and oxygen through the body, which can be caused by high blood pressure or coronary artery disease.  During heart failure, the main chambers of the organ may become stiff and be unable to beat properly.

In more serious cases of heart failure, the heart muscles may become damaged or deteriorated, with the ventricles possibly dilating to the point where the heart can no longer pump blood. Onglyza patients should be wary of any signs of heart failure, including:

• Unusual shortness of breath during routine activities
• Breathing issues while lying down
• Weakness or fatigue
• Weight gain and swelling ankles, feet, legs, or stomach

Onglyza patients who may have developed heart failure from the medication may be able to file legal action against the drug’s manufacturer to seek compensation for any medical injuries.