While every medication carries the potential for the patient to develop significant side effects, many patients being given diabetes drugs question whether Farxiga side effects outweigh the potential benefits.

Some of the side effects can be severe and may even lead to amputation of limbs. Milder Farxiga side effects include urinary tract infection, a yeast infection, or throat irritation.

Rare but dangerous side effects have been recorded with patients taking Farxiga, including bladder cancer, diabetic ketoacidosis, acute kidney failure, broken bones, pancreatitis, urosepsis, giant hives, kidney disease with a reduction in kidney function, and sepsis caused by bacteria.

Farxiga, much like Jardiance, has recently been connected to a heightened risk for amputation, particularly amputation of the lower limbs.

Patients taking SGLT-2 inhibitors, according to a Scandinavian research study, were twice as likely to have to go through a lower limb amputation when compared with patients taking another form of diabetes medication.

Some diabetes patients already present significant risks for amputation, including those who have foot ulcers or peripheral artery disease. Physicians whose patients have undergone amputations suggest that doctors carefully consider whether or not the risk of these side effects should be cause for choosing a different medication.

According to HealthDay, this class of medication works with patients who have higher blood sugars than normal. This treatment leads to an increase in urination because this is the way that the body disposes of the extra sugar.

The FDA issued a 2017 warning, sharing the results of two big clinical trials, identifying that canagliflozin is connected to an increased risk of foot and leg amputations. Further clinical data is being collected regarding the use of Jardiance and Farxiga.

Any patient who is already at an increased risk of having an amputation, such as a person who has already undergone one or more amputations may want to consult their physician to discuss next steps and other medication opportunities. Other options for medications might be recommended in lieu of drugs such as Jardiance and Farxiga.

Several of the drugs inside the SGLT-2 inhibitor class have been associated with a heightened amputation risk. Many of the patients who have already had to undergo an amputation as a result of taking these drugs say that they were never properly warned about the possibility of these side effects.

An amputation of a lower limb, such as a toe or an entire foot, can affect a patient’s life in big ways. Some physical activities might no longer be possible. Amputation, as with any surgery, puts the patient at risk of developing an infection or other complications from surgery.

Some patients believe that the makers of these SGLT2 drugs knew about the problems but failed to disclose them. According to complaints and lawsuits over these issues, this failure to warn put patients at risk for life-changing medical problem like an amputation.

If you or someone you know took Farxiga and had to go through amputation surgery, you could have grounds to pursue legal action.