Invokana®, also known as canagliflozin, is a type of prescription medicine used to lower blood sugar in adults with Type 2 diabetes, the most common form of diabetes. Most forms of medication for diabetes work to increase insulin, while Invokana® instead works to stop glucose from being reabsorbed into the blood in the kidneys. Recent studies and FDA warnings reveal serious complications and side effects associated with Invokana® can be fatal. 

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Safety Communication issued in 2015, taking this drug may lead to ketoacidosis, a dangerous condition in which the body produces high levels of blood acids.

Even more dangerous – ketoacidosis can lead to more complications. According to the Mayo Clinic, complications from ketoacidosis include low potassium levels which can cause a fatal cardiac incident that can be fatal. Ketoacidosis can also lead to swelling of the brain, which is also called a cerebral edema, and kidney failure.

On December 3, 2015, the National Institute of Health issued a notice to pharmacy and emergency medicine professionals about Type 2 diabetes medicines called sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. Invokana, also known as canagliflozin, is an SGLT2 inhibitor. The notice states the following: “A review of the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FEARS) database from March 2013 to May 201 identified 73 cases of ketoacidosis in patients with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes treated with SGLT2 inhibitors.”

The NIH report recommended that patients should stop taking their SGLT2 inhibitor and seek medical help if they had symptoms of ketoacidosis.

Law firms are filing suits against Invokana’s® manufacturer, Johnson & Johnson. We are currently working with clients who have suffered injury or the loss of a loved one as a result of complications caused by Invokana®. See our Lawsuits page for information on the lawsuits that have been settled and those still pending, as well as details on what you need to do if you have been injured and believe you may have a claim.

Serious illness and death can result from taking Invokana®. Type 2 diabetes patients, or their loved ones, may have suffered from heart attacks, fluid on the brain, or kidney failure as a result of taking Invokana®, and they may not realize that their complications were caused by the drug.

To learn more about Invokana®, why it is prescribed, and some of the consequences it has caused, click here.

If you or a loved one developed complications after taking Invokana®, including fluid in the brain (cerebral edema), heart attack or serious kidney problems, you may be entitled to compensation. Recovery may include past and future medical bills, lost wages, diminished quality of life, and pain and suffering. If you are the spouse of a victim, you may be able to recover damages due to loss of spousal consortium or, if your loved one died, compensation for the loss of her companionship.

To find out if you have a claim, please call Avram Blair & Associates P.C. at (800) 428-2603 or fill out our online contact form for a free consultation.