Invokana and Kidney Problems

In his complaint, Wardell Fleming indicates that he was prescribed Invokana in November 2013, to treat his diabetes and help control his blood sugar. As a result of his Invokana treatment, Fleming alleges, he developed serious kidney problems, including kidney failure, kidney damage, and reduced kidney function, and is now at an increased risk of stroke, heart attack and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) as a result of taking the Type 2 diabetes medication. “SGLT2 inhibitors, including Invokana, are designed to inhibit renal glucose reabsorption with the goal of lowering blood glucose,” the lawsuit states. “As a result, excess glucose is not metabolized, but instead is excreted through the kidneys of a population of consumers already at risk for kidney disease.”

FDA Warnings for Invokana Users

Allegations raised in Fleming’s lawsuit mirror concerns raised by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which issued a new drug safety communication on December 4, warning that Invokana and other SGLT2 (sodium-glucose cotransporter-2) inhibitors may increase the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis and serious urinary tract infections. According to the warning, the agency 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 through October 2014. All 19 patients were hospitalized, and a few required admission to an intensive care unit or dialysis in order to treat kidney failure.”

Alleged Side Effects of SGLT2 Inhibitors

Both the FDA and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) have raised serious concerns about the alleged side effects of Invokana and other SGLT2 inhibitors, which may include kidney failure, kidney damage, diabetic ketoacidosis, urinary tract infections, kidney stones, dehydration, hypersensitivity and abnormal weight loss. In fact, the ISMP examined the adverse event reports submitted to the FDA and found that Invokana (canagliflozin) was associated with more adverse events than 92% of the other medications regularly monitored by the organization.

Invokana Makers Accused of Failure to Warn

Like Fleming, former Invokana users across the country are now pursuing legal claims against Johnson & Johnson and Janssen Pharmaceuticals, alleging that the drug makers knew or should have known about the potential for Invokana users to suffer kidney injuries and other serious complications. According to Fleming’s complaint, “The development of Plaintiff’s injuries was preventable and resulted directly from Defendants’ failure and refusal to conduct proper safety studies, failure to properly assess and publicize alarming safety signals, suppression of information, revealing serious and life-threatening risks, willful and wanton failure to provide adequate instructions, and willful misrepresentations concerning the nature and safety of Invokana.”

Contact an Experienced Invokana Lawyer Today

In its December safety warning, the FDA announced new warnings for the labels of SGLT2 inhibitors like Invokana, highlighting the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis, urinary tract infections, kidney infections and kidney failure that may result from treatment with the diabetes drugs. If you or a loved one has suffered kidney failure, kidney damage, diabetic ketoacidosis, or another serious side effect allegedly associated with Invokana treatment, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries. Contact a knowledgeable Invokana attorney as soon as possible to discuss your legal options.