The diabetes medication Invokana has been linked to an increased risk of lower limb amputation, including the foot, toes, and leg. Invokana is a medication used to treat Type 2 diabetes and is also sold under the brand names Invokamet XR and Invokamet. The active drug in Invokana, canagliflozin, lowers a person’s blood sugar by removing sugar from urine as it is filtered through the kidneys. These drugs have already been linked to an increased risk of kidney damage and ketoacidosis. Now, clinical trials have linked Invokana to amputations prompting the FDA to quire additional warnings for consumers.
Black Box Warning for Invokana
In its Safety Announcement on May 16, 2017, the FDA confirmed that two clinical trials had concluded that canagliflozin causes an increased risk of foot and leg amputations. The FDA now requires that drugs containing canagliflozin, like Invokana, have a Boxed Warning advising consumers that they have an increased risk of amputation if they use this drug. This is the strongest warning required by the FDA. The warning appears in a box with a thick black border around it to ensure that it is prevalent and easy to see by patients.
Clinical Trials Involving Canagliflozin
The results of the clinical trials of patients taking drugs like Invokana were grim. Patients in both studies who took drugs containing canagliflozin had almost double the risk of leg and foot amputations compared to patients who took a placebo. Toes and the middle of the foot were the most common types of amputations for these patients. However, some patients had multiple amputations, and other patients lost their leg above and below the knee.
What Can You Do If You Have Questions?
Patients who are taking Invokana or another drug containing canagliflozin should discuss the risks with their physician. We do not advise any patient to stop taking any medication without discussing the matter with their physician. Stopping medication without consulting your doctor can also have severe and potentially deadly consequences.
However, we also encourage you to contact our office if you have suffered an injury from taking Invokana or another dangerous drug. Drug manufacturers can be held responsible when drugs cause injuries if they failed to warn patients about the potential risks when taking the drug. Johnson & Johnson is still selling Invokana and promoting it as a safe drug for Type 2 diabetes even with the increased risk of kidney damage and amputations.
Multiple lawsuits have been filed claiming damages from injuries caused by Invokana. If you have suffered an injury or illness after taking Invokana, you may be entitled to recover compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain, and suffering.
Call an Invokana Injury Attorney for Help
Attorney Fred Olinde of The Olinde Firm represents clients in New Orleans and throughout the United States who have been injured because of Invokana or other dangerous drugs. You can reach our office by calling (504) 587-1440 or 1-800-587-1889 to request a free consultation with a nationwide Invokana lawsuit attorney.