Potential Side Effects of Invokana

When Invokana (canagliflozin) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2013, the medication was marketed by Johnson & Johnson as a safe and effective means of lowering blood glucose levels in adults with Type 2 diabetes. The drug achieves this by inhibiting the reabsorption of glucose in the bloodstream, thereby increasing the amount of glucose that is excreted through the urine. Because of its solid performance in early clinical trials, Invokana quickly became one of the most widely-used diabetes medications on the market, with drug sales increasing dramatically from $586 million in 2014 to $1.3 billion in 2015.

Even as more and more diabetes patients are switched to Invokana therapy, a growing number of studies are highlighting the potential for Invokana treatment to cause serious side effects in users. According to research, patients with Type 2 diabetes who take Invokana may have a significantly increased risk of suffering devastating complications like diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), kidney failure, kidney damage, urinary tract infections, heart attack, cardiovascular problems and wrongful death. During drug trials conducted before Invokana was approved by the FDA, animal studies linked Invokana use to a higher risk of fungal infections, kidney damage, abnormalities in the bones, and testicular and kidney cancers.

FDA Warnings for Invokana Users

In its first warning about the potential side effects of Invokana, issued in May 2015, the FDA warned that “the type 2 diabetes medicines canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, and empagliflozin may lead to ketoacidosis, a serious condition where the body produces high levels of blood acids called ketones that may require hospitalization.” At that time, the FDA indicated that it had received reports of 20 cases of acidosis identified as diabetic ketoacidosis, ketoacidosis or ketosis in patients treated with SGLT2 inhibitors like Invokana from March 2013 to June 6, 2014. In September 2015, the FDA issued another warning indicating that patients taking Invokana may face an increased risk of bone fractures and bone mineral density loss.

In an updated warning issued in December 2015, the FDA identified 73 cases of ketoacidosis in patients treated with SGLT2 inhibitors from March 2013 to May 2015. In that same safety communication, the FDA also identified “19 cases of life-threatening blood infections (urosepsis) and kidney infections (pyelonephritis) that started as urinary tract infections with the SGLT2 inhibitors reported to FAERS from March 2013 to October 2014.” Despite these serious risks, Johnson & Johnson continues to market Invokana as a safe and effective way for patients with Type 2 diabetes to lower their blood glucose levels.

A Qualified Invokana Attorney Can Help

Contact a knowledgeable product liability lawyer today if you believe you have been adversely affected by side effects of Invokana. You may be entitled to reimbursement for your injuries, which you can pursue by filing an Invokana lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson.