Invokana is a diabetes drug manufactured by Johnson & Johnson. It is intended to help adult patients with type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar levels. However, Invokana lawsuits allege that the drug has dangerous side effects that Johnson & Johnson did not adequately warn patients and their healthcare providers about. Patients and loved ones of patients who experienced severe side effects after taking Invokana may be eligible to seek compensation for their injuries. An Arkansas Invokana lawsuit attorney can help individuals pursue a claim.
For more information, contact the Johnson Firm today. We offer free, no obligation consultations, and we can help you determine whether you have a claim. You can contact us by filling out the form on this page, calling us at 501-372-1300, or emailing us at info@johnsonfirm.law.
What is Invokana?
Invokana uses the ingredient canagliflozin to improve blood sugar levels in the body. The drug helps patients with type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar by removing the sugar through the kidneys. Invokana is a member of the class of drugs called sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. These drugs are designed to treat type 2 diabetes in the following manner:
- The drug inhibits reabsorption of glucose, the sugar in the blood, in the kidneys.
- The glucose is removed from the blood through urination.
- Blood sugar levels lower after the glucose is removed.
Patients take Invokana daily. The dosage for Invokana depends on the patient’s medical condition and response to the treatment.
What Are the Risks Associated With Invokana?
Invokana has been linked with severe side effects such as kidney disease and pancreatitis. A Safety Announcement by U.S. Food and Drug Administration asked patients taking Invokana to be aware of the risk of developing ketoacidosis while taking the drug. Ketoacidosis is a dangerous diabetes complication that occurs when the body produces excess acids called ketones in the blood.
What Are the Dangers of Ketoacidosis?
When the body breaks down fat for energy, chemical substances called ketones are produced. A higher level of ketones can be produced when the body is not properly processing sugar. When too many ketones build up in the blood, a patient may experience ketoacidosis. Ketoacidosis is a dangerous condition that requires help from a medical professional, and the condition can result in severe complications, including:
- Hospitalization
- Diabetic coma
- Death
The FDA statement informs patients taking Invokana that the drug can cause ketoacidosis when insulin levels are too low. The statement also asks patients taking the drug to carefully monitor their health for signs that they are developing ketoacidosis. Patients and loved ones of patients taking Invokana should seek medical attention immediately if they notice the following conditions:
- The patient is having difficulty breathing.
- The patient has abdominal pain, is nauseated or is vomiting.
- The patient is unusually fatigued or seems confused.
Patients and loved ones of patients who have experienced the severe side effects of Invokana can contact an Arkansas Invokana lawsuit attorney for help seeking compensation from the drug maker.
What Are Other Side Effects of Invokana?
Invokana has many expected side effects. Patients may experience normal side effects that do not require immediate medical attention and can instead be discussed with a healthcare provider during a regular appointment. Patients may notice normal side effects of the drug such as:
- An unusual dryness in the mouth
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Feeling an increase in thirst
- The need to urinate frequently
The drug also may cause severe side effects other than ketoacidosis that are serious enough to require immediate medical attention. These severe side effects of the drug include several conditions:
- Signs of a bladder infection such as difficulty urinating or pain during urination
- Signs of high levels of potassium in the blood such as muscle weakness and irregular or slow heartbeats
- Signs of a yeast infection on the penis such as rashes, swelling or itching
- Signs of a yeast infection in the vagina such as vaginal odor, itching and white or yellow discharge in female patients
- Signs of an allergic reaction to the drug such as rash, itching or swelling of the face or in the mouth and throat, difficulty breathing and severe dizziness
Patients who suffer severe side effects after taking the drug are encouraged to follow up with a healthcare professional.
Is There an Invokana Class action?
There is not a class action lawsuit against the makers of Invokana. Instead, individual patients and loved ones of patients who have been harmed by the dangerous side effects of the drug have filed individual claims with the help of an Invokana lawsuit attorney.
Why Are There Invokana Lawsuits?
Drug makers have a duty to provide safe drugs. If there are risks of harm associated with their drugs, they also must provide adequate warnings. If a drug maker fails to fulfill this duty, it could be held liable in lawsuits for injuries that may result.
Patients who are injured by Invokana may be entitled to compensation for damages, including:
- Medical expenses
- The permanency of the injury
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish
- Loss of income or ability to work
If a patient dies from complications after taking Invokana, family members may be entitled to compensation for the wrongful death of their loved one, including:
- Conscious pain and suffering of a loved one prior to death
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish from the loss of a loved one
- Funeral expenses
Patients who have suffered severe side effects after taking Invokana, as well as the families of those who have died as a result of complications with the drug, are encouraged to seek the advice of an Arkansas Invokana Lawsuit Attorney to learn more about their rights and remedies.
The Time You Have to Pursue a Claim is Limited. Contact Us Today.
If you have questions about Invokana lawsuits, or if you want to speak with an Arkansas Invokana Lawsuit Attorney, contact the Johnson firm today. You can contact us by filling out the form on this page, calling us at 501-372-1300, or emailing us at info@johnsonfirm.law.
After you contact us, an attorney will follow up with you to get more information about your case. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and all of the information you provide is confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim or file a lawsuit for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.