Victoza Recall Petition: Lawyers Considering Lawsuits for Thyroid Cancer, Kidney Failure, Pancreatitis

Harvey Kirk

By Harvey Kirk
Posted April 20, 2012

ADD YOUR COMMENTS 25

This week, the consumer group Public Citizen filed a petition with the FDA demanding a Victoza recall be issued due to the serious side effects associated with this relatively new diabetes drug, which may increase the risk of thyroid cancer, kidney failure, pancreatitis and other injuries.

The product liability lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are reviewing whether former users of this medication who have experienced problems may be entitled to financial compensation through a Victoza lawsuit.

Public Citizen is urging the FDA to recall Victoza because it is now clear that the potential benefits provided by the diabetes drug are outweighed by the risk of Victoza side effects, which may include:

  • Thyroid Cancer
  • Kidney Failure
  • Pancreatitis
  • Hypersensitivity
  • Birth Defects or Malformations

Victoza (liraglutide) was approved by the FDA in January 2010 for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Two of the FDA’s safety reviewers objected to its approval, due to danger signs that emerged during the clinical trials and the fact that there were already other diabetes drugs on the market, diminishing the need for a new one with potentially severe side effects.

Early testing in mice and rats showed signs of thyroid C-cell tumors in both sexes even when adjusting to simulate an adult taking the recommended dose. When the drug was given to humans in the pre-trial testing stage the rate of thyroid cancer tripled.

There were also early signs of problems with pancreatitis. People given the drug during clinical trials were almost four times as likely to be diagnosed with pancreatitis than patients given other diabetes drugs. After just a year and a half on the market, the FDA received 200 reports of Victoza users being diagnosed with pancreatitis. Many believe only about 10% of adverse events get reported to the FDA, which could mean there are thousands of cases of Victoza pancreatitis in the U.S.

Once the drug was on the market, reports of kidney failure from Victoza also began to roll in, and the FDA had to add yet another warning for acute renal failure to Victoza’s label. There were also warnings added later for hypersensitivity and an increased risk of Victoza birth defects and malformations when the drug was taken by pregnant women.

VICTOZA LAWSUITS REVIEWED

It appears that Novo Nordisk placed their desire for profits before consumer safety by marketing this diabetes drug without providing adequate warnings and ignoring signs of problems that should have led to a Victoza recall. As a result, about 150,000 prescriptions for Victoza are filled each month and individuals throughout the United States may have experienced injuries that may have been prevented with the use of a different diabetes drug.

The lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are considering potential lawsuits for individuals throughout the United States who may have developed thyroid cancer, kidney failure or pancreatitis. If you, a friend or family member has suffered any of these problems that may have been caused by side effects of Victoza, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.

25 Comments • Add Your Comments

  • Grace says:

    I took one shot of Victoza but later that day got nauseaus and stopped. now the nurse/doctor wants me to take Byetta which looks like is worse than Victoza with the severe side effects. I do not want to get pancreatic cancer or any other disease. I just want to get rid of my diabetes.

    Posted on October 24, 2012 at 4:23 pm

  • Debra says:

    After my husband started taking Victoza, he started with incredible body ache and is now on a cane. He stopped taking it several weeks ago but the swelling and inability to get around is still apparent

    Posted on November 2, 2012 at 12:39 pm

  • Melinda says:

    I have taken Victoza in the past hand have had many medical problems resulting from the drug. I have had nausea, vomiting, swollen lymph nodes on the right side, stomach problems which resulted in gastro paresis and the removal of my stomach. Still having the lower abdominal pain and lower back. After researching the drug, it has been found that all the symptoms I have or had in the past are related. I contacted many attorneys and the attorney general with no avail. When do we really get help in reference to this matter?

    Posted on November 5, 2012 at 3:40 pm

  • Mekayla says:

    I started off taking Byetta, however didn’t help me by no means. I’ve been on Viztoza for 2 weeks, and have lost about 10 pounds so far. I am expericing extreme nasua, stomach cramps, and knots in my stomach. I’m not sure if this is normal.
    I also feel like I always have a lump in my throat, sorta like I’m going to vomit any minute.

    Posted on November 19, 2012 at 10:36 pm

  • Jenny says:

    Hi everyone

    I am in the UK and my diabetes team want me to start taking Victoza again.I took it for a short time about 2 years ago but got very nauseous with lots of headaches so with my doctors agreement stopped.

    However, since then my diabetes has got much worse and I have been or less permanently Hyperglycaemic for the last year.

    I currently take 2 tpes of Insulin Levermir 60 units a day, + Novo Rapid x 3 times a day (variable dose at each meal depeneding on carbs eaten), + 1000g of Metformin twice a day, + 80mg of glicalizide twice a day. It doesn’t matter how much extra medication I take my sugars still don’t come down.

    I know I can’t leave my sugars so high, my last HBA1C was up again to 9.6% and still climbing. I regularly record levels of 15 + and up to 25.7 mmol in the day and evening. Even when I first get up in the morning my sugars are often around 13.8 mmol.

    I have also recently been referred to hospital with suspected pancreatitis although fortunately this didn’t prove to be the case, but they still don’t know what is causing those symptoms.

    Having read what’s happening in the USA I am even more worried, particularly as my diabetic team seem so insistent.

    Posted on January 24, 2013 at 1:03 pm

  • christiana says:

    I took victoza samples at first started in nov 2011. I was told by my insurance in order for them to cover my victoza i had to try something else first. The dr started me then on byetta but whew did i get sick high sugar of 366 using it. Never had issues with victoza helped me lose 30 lbs or more. The insurance then cover the victoza. I got back on it til jan 19 2012 bc i had gastric bypassand no longer had a need for it. Now feb. 28 2013 i had to have surgery to rrmove 2 cancerous tumors and my thyroid. Im very curios as to if this would have been the cause. Tumor on the left was 6mm and the one on the right was 3 mm.

    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 9:33 am

  • Tandra says:

    I started using this medication 04/2011 I have had extremely bad abdominal pain, back pain, lower abd pain, sometimes unable to walk due to the pain. After hearing about the serious side effects, decided not to taken it any longer, it’s been 2-weeks, I feel better relieved of some of the pains.

    Posted on April 6, 2013 at 3:15 pm

  • Lisa says:

    I developed pancreatitis after being on. Victoza for a few months. It took a trip to the ER and a 3 day hospital stay to feel better.i never want that experience again! My physician immediately stopped the Victoza.

    Posted on May 7, 2013 at 1:15 pm

  • Nicole says:

    My Mother began taking Victoza in June of 2011. She was diagnosed with acute severe pancreatitis on June 26, 2012. We were told it would be 7-10 days. She ended up being hospitalized for 5 months. During those 5 months, her liver and kidneys failed, she had to be put on dialysis, within 2 weeks of being hospitalized she had to have a tracheotomy and underwent 2 surgeries within 1 month. After all she had went through sadly my Mother passed away at 56 years “young” on November 10, 2012.

    Posted on May 9, 2013 at 2:42 pm

  • Julie says:

    I have taken victoza for well over a year and within that time developed tumors on my thyroid, not large enough for surgery yet. But I suspect that they are growing. I recently have had pain in my back near my left kidney, I stopped taking the victoza because of this and my dr. wants me to see a neurosurgeon to rule out lumbosacral radiculopathy at my L5 disc first.And I am going to have another ultrasound on my thyroid to see if the tumors grew.

    Posted on May 17, 2013 at 9:19 am

  • faith says:

    I have been taking victoza now for about 5 years ,since then i have developed fibormyalgaand am in severe pain al the time,I am now being treated for that too on top of that i have been treated for migrane headachsfor the last 5 years,all of my health problems seem to have started after the onstart of victoza.

    Posted on February 10, 2014 at 6:36 pm

  • Christina says:

    I had two cyst on my thyroid had to have it removed dr then put me on Victoria cause he said I was diabetic after taking it for a while I notice a lump on my throat the i had the dr check it he said its nothing I finally stoped taking the Victoria because it made me light headed now the lump is bigger just got it checked by a different dr to find out I have to have surgery again to have to lump removed

    Posted on March 20, 2014 at 11:58 am

  • doug says:

    Well I was on victoza for a month and a half and I started to have really bad cramps and knotting also then when the switched me back to my old meds I now have high blood pressure and I have never had a problem before I started taking it.

    Posted on May 31, 2014 at 12:04 am

  • Diane says:

    This April my mother developed severe pancreatitis. She was admitted to the ICU where she was on a ventilator for 14 days. The doctor said that the pancreatitis was a result of taking Victoza. She was taking victoza for about eight months. Luckily, she came off the ventilator but now has a long recovery ahead of her.

    Posted on May 31, 2014 at 8:34 pm

  • Jaimie says:

    A family member of ours was killed by victoza within a few days of the first dose.

    Posted on June 10, 2014 at 11:54 am

  • DIANE says:

    I started Victoza in Oct 2012. After about 3 weeks I told the Dr I couldn’t take the stomach pain and nausea. They told me it should go away soon. I continued to take it until July of 2013 when I just couldn’t take it anymore. I have been off for about a year and I am still nauseas and stomach cramping. HORRIBLE drug!! it should be taken off the market for sure.

    Posted on June 13, 2014 at 5:54 pm

  • Donna says:

    I had my gallbladder removed and now I have possible renal cell carcinoma. has anyone else had any of these problems

    Posted on September 29, 2014 at 6:41 pm

  • Steve says:

    I have been on Victoza for several years. I have no history of cancer in my family, but I had bladder cancer removed several weeks ago. Is there any history of Victoza and bladder cancer?

    Posted on October 18, 2014 at 1:13 pm

  • BOB says:

    AFTER I STARTED VICTOZA I NEVER FELT THE SAME I LET MY DOCTOR NO I DID FEEL THE SAME AND THENAFTER A FEW DR APPTS TELLING DR I WAS HAVING STOMACH ISSUES CRAMPING SEVERE BLOATING VOMITING A LOT OF STOMACH PAIN FINALLY MY DR STOPPED IT BUT I THINK ITS TO LATE AFTER MANY TEST I HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES ALL AT ONCE MY KIDNEY NUMBERS HAVE INCREASED MY GALL BLADDER HAS TO BE REMOVED I HAVE A BACTERIA INFECTION IN MY STOMACH PAIN ALL THE TIME LOTS OF BODY PAINS BACK PAIN BUT I THINK IT TO LATE THE DAMAGE IS DONE AND THE DOCTORS IGNORE THIS ANYONE ELSE WITH THESE ISSUES

    Posted on November 25, 2014 at 1:02 pm

  • Elizabeth says:

    Hello Donna, I took victoza for about 2 years and I am having a kidney removed (renal cell carcinoma) on Tuesday. I’ve just started my research on the link between the two. How did you make out with your kidney?

    Posted on January 31, 2015 at 10:44 am

  • Debbie says:

    I had been taking Victoza for several years, blissfully unaware of the risks. Recently I received a letter from my pharmacy about the problems people who use Victoza are having. My family doctor ordered a sonogram of my thyroid which found “something.” I have experienced many of the symptoms mentioned by others but always blamed them on something else. I stopped taking Victoza a month ago and I pray it was soon enough.

    Posted on April 4, 2015 at 6:42 am

  • Bruce says:

    I took Victoza developed pancreatitis, lived with constant diarrhea for 2 years, lost 90 lbs, the docs finally removed my gall bllader. Finally relief from the constant diarrhea.

    Posted on February 24, 2016 at 7:04 am

  • pamela says:

    I took victoza for about 9 month so in June of 2015 Went. To them hospital in severe pain. I was diagnosed with severe acute Pancratitis I was in there hospital for their entire month of June eating nothing but ice chips they doctor stopped the victoza immediately

    Posted on March 24, 2016 at 5:17 pm

  • James says:

    I have been on Victoria for almost two years and have had several stomach problems. Then just recently my doctor increases it and pain has increased in my stomach severely.

    Posted on November 13, 2016 at 8:42 am

  • Anna says:

    I’ve been given Victoza to be taken with Levimir by my endocronologist. Before I started taking it, I opened the Victoza box and there in bold print was the warning about thyroid and pancreatic cancers. I am so relieved that I did not take this medicine after reading all of this information, I have decided to refuse Victoza.

    Thanks very much.

    Posted on August 13, 2018 at 11:20 pm

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