The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has responded to reports of serious Onglyza side effects, requiring that manufacturers update the drug’s warning label to reflect the elevated danger associated with the medication.

The widely-used diabetes medication has been linked in a number of adverse events reports with a variety of severe and even fatal side effects, including certain cancers and heart failure.

Onglyza Background

Onglyza (or saxagliptin) is co-manufactured by pharmaceutical companies AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb, and is intended to treat type 2 diabetes. It first entered the medication market in 2009.

Onglyza is an incretin mimetic medication, a form of diabetes treatment drug that stimulates insulin release, helping to regulate blood sugar level.

A major selling point for Onglyza has been its lack of attachment to weight gain. Many diabetes drugs lead to weight gain, but this is not associated with Onglyza. This makes the drug highly attractive for type 2 diabetes patients.

However, several alleged Onglyza side effects may potentially do much more damage than simple weight gain.  Onglyza has been widely-prescribed since its entry into the drug market in 2009, so serious Onglyza side effects have the potential to affect people all over the country.

Onglyza Pancreatic Cancer

Onglyza may been linked to an increased risk of  pancreatic cancer, which may be the most dangerous of Onglyza side effects.

Pancreatic cancer is hard to detect, and is often not diagnosed until it has already progressed until the later stages of the disease, when it is more difficult to treat and therefore more dangerous. In these later stages, treatment of pancreatic cancer is less effective, and the risk of fatality becomes much higher.

The potential connection between diabetes and pancreatic cancer has been cause for concern in the medical community for some time, and so a diabetes medication that may encourage pancreatic cancer even more has many consumers wary.

Onglyza Thyroid Cancer

Onglyza thyroid cancer, for instance, is a slow-growing cancer that can take many years to develop, and may only be discovered in the later (and more dangerous) stages.

The FDA has already received dozens of reports regarding Onglyza thyroid cancer from patients taking this and similar drugs.

Onglyza Heart Failure

Onglyza manufacturers have been warned to include an increased risk of heart failure to their warning labels.

Heart failure is a serious and potentially life-threatening medical condition in which the heart becomes so weak that it cannot adequately pump blood throughout the body. High blood pressure or coronary artery disease can eventually lead to heart failure by gradually weakening the heart.

Even if a patient survives heart failure, they are typically forced to make significant changes to their daily life. These kinds of permanent changes may include improving their diet, reducing their level of salt intake, exercising, losing weight, and/or managing stress more effectively.

Onglyza Lawsuits

A growing number of diabetes patients are coming forward, alleging that Onglyza directly led to major side effects, including Onglyza heart failure or cancer. Some patients choose to file lawsuits over Onglyza side effects against the drug makers for failing to adequately warn and inform the medical community and consumers of potential heightened risk factors of their drug.

FDA policy is that drugs do not and should not require such definitive links before adding warnings to their labels of potential risks.

Companies add warning labels when there is enough evidence to suggest a connection and cause concern. Onglyza lawsuits allege that the drug’s manufacturers should have included a warning for pancreatic cancer, thyroid cancer, and heart failure.

If you or someone you know has suffered from heart failure, cancer, or other serious Onglyza side effects after using the drug, you may be able to take legal action. Filing an Onglyza lawsuit may not fix the damage, but it can help to alleviate the physical, emotional, and financial losses felt as a result of using Onglyza.