A Louisiana resident has filed an Invokana lawsuit against Janssen Pharmaceuticals and its parent company Johnson & Johnson for failing to warn about the serious side effects associated with taking the diabetes medication.

Specifically the lawsuit claims the drug maker failed to warn of the possibility of developing Invokana acute kidney failure.

Plaintiff Theresa R. began taking Invokana in June 2014 until about August 2014 to treat her diabetes.

Theresa claims that as a result of taking the diabetes medication she suffered and continues to suffer severe and permanent personal injuries, including diabetic ketoacidosis, stroke, heart attack and Invokana acute kidney failure.

Additionally, Theresa alleges that the pharmaceutical companies willfully concealed their knowledge of Invokana’s unreasonably dangerous risks in order to prevent any chances that U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of Invokana would be delayed.

Theresa claims she had relied on advertised claims that Invokana is a safe and effective treatment for type 2 diabetes, when, according to the Invokana lawsuit, the defendants knew or should have known the risks associated with the use of the diabetes medicine, including the risk of developing Invokana acute kidney failure.

How Does Invokana Cause Acute Kidney Failure?

Invokana is a type of drug known as a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor. SGLT2 inhibitors work by decreasing the amount of glucose (sugar) the body is able to absorb, and increasing the amount of glucose that exits the body in the form of urine.

The kidneys are the organs that filter glucose and other waste products out of the bloodstream and convert them into urine, which is then evacuated from the body.

Essentially, what Invokana and other SGLT2 inhibitors do is increase the workload of the kidneys, which can lead to kidney injury and Invokana acute kidney failure (also known as renal failure).

When the kidneys cease to function properly, waste products, fluids and electrolytes build up in the body, causing weakness, shortness of breath, lethargy, confusion, abnormal heart rhythms and even sudden death.

FDA Warns Of Invokana Acute Kidney Failure

As recently as June, 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) strengthened its previous warning about Invokana acute kidney failure and injury.

These warnings were prompted by reports of 101 cases of Invokana acute kidney failure and injury between March of 2013 and October of 2015.

The FDA urges patients being treated with Invokana and other SGLT2 inhibitors to seek emergency medical attention if they experience symptoms of kidney failure.

“This is a serious condition in which the kidneys suddenly stop working, causing dangerous levels of wastes to build up in the body. Signs and symptoms of acute kidney injury may include decreased urine or swelling in the legs or feet,” the FDA cautioned.

Were You Harmed by Invokana?

If you or a family member have suffered Invokana acute kidney failure or any other adverse side effect due to the treatment with the diabetes medication, you may have legal grounds to seek compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, death of a loved one, and much more.

The Invokana Acute Kidney Failure Lawsuit is Case No. 3:16-cv-04489 in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, Trenton Division.