Invokamet Lawyers For Amputations, Other Injuries
The lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are reviewing potential lawsuits for individuals who required an amuptation due to Invokamet side effects. As a result of the drug makers’ failure to warn about the risk of serious and potentially debilitating complications, financial compensation may be available.
Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen Pharmaceuticals subsidiary introduced Invokana in 2013, as the first medication in a new generation of diabetes drugs. One year later, Invokamet was introduced in an attempt to capitalize on the lucrative diabetes drug market. However, it now appears that inadequate warnings may have been provided about potential health risks with Invokamet.
Potential Invokamet lawsuit have been pursued on behalf of individuals who suffered:
- Leg, Foot or Toe Amputations
- Kidney Failure
- Diabetic Ketoacidosis, Ketosis or Acidosis
- Heart Attack, Stroke or Other Cardiovascular Injury
- Wrongful Death
At this time, only amputation cases are being accepted by our Invokamet lawyers. New claims are no longer being reviewed for other injuries associated with the diabetes drug. To determine whether you, a friend or family member may be eligible to pursue a case, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.
Invokamet Problems
Invokamet was introduced in August 2014, as a member of the new class of diabetes drugs known as sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors.
Unlike other diabetes medications, Invokamet and other SGLT2 inhibitors work by impacting certain normal kidney functions, to increase the amount of sugar excreted in the urine.
This is designed to increase glucose production and lower blood glucose levels among diabetics. The addition of metformin decreases the production of glucose in the liver.
Based on adverse event reports submitted involving problems with Invokamet, Invokana and other SGLT2 inhibitors, it now appears that side effects of the drugs may lead to serious and potentially life threatening side effects that were not adequately disclosed to consumers or the medical community in the Invokamet warnings.
▸ Invokamet Amputation Cases
Information about the risk of amputations from Invokamet and Invokana was first disclosed in May 2016, when the FDA issued another drug safety communication about early results from a clinical trial, which identified a large number of amputated legs and feet, particularly involving the toes.
About a year later, the FDA announced that new label information about the link between Invokmet and amputations would be placed prominently in a “black box”, which is the strongest warning that can be required for a prescription medication.
The agency determined that nearly 6 out of every 1,000 patients that take Invokana or Invokamet may require an amputation, which is double the risk seen among diabetics given a placebo. In addition, similar amputation problems were not seen among users of other competing diabetes drugs.
▸ Invokamet and Kidney Failure
During the first year Invokana was on the market, there were a large number of complaints submitted involving kidney problems from the Invokamet component, including reports of:
- Kidney Failure
- Kidney Impairment
- Kidney Stones
- Urinary Tract Infections
- Abnormal Weight Loss
- Hypersensitivity Reactions
In December 2015, the FDA announced new Invokamet warnings, which indicate that patients should seek immediate medical assistance if they showed signs of a urinary tract infection, as this could be an indication of a more dangerous blood or kidney infection that could lead to kidney failure and even death.
Based on the mechanism of action for the medication, some experts have suggested that the drug maker knew or should have known about the potential kidney risks with Invokamet and Invokana before either drug was introduced.
Questions have also been raised about whether the minimal benefits provided in treating type 2 diabetes outweigh the potential risks. As a result, the lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. believe the FDA should consider requiring an Invokamet recall.
▸ Invokamet Ketoacidosis, Ketosis and Acidosis Side Effects
In May 2015, the FDA launched a drug investigation into the safety of Invokamet, as well as other SGLT2 inhibitors, after determining that a number of patients were hospitalized due to the accumulation of high levels of acid in the blood; known as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
The FDA announced in December 2015 that stronger warnings must be placed on the drug label about the link between Invokamet and ketoacidosis, indicating that patients should stop using the medication immediately and seek medical assistance if they began experiencing signs like:
- Difficulty Breathing
- Nausea or Vomiting
- Abdominal Pain
- Confusion, Fatigue or Sleepiness
The FDA identified at least 73 adverse event reports received involving ketoacidosis with Invokamet or similar diabetes drugs. Each of the cases resulted in hospitalization or emergency room treatment.
Allegations Raised in Invokamet Lawsuits
- Failure to Study Invokamet Side Effects;
- Failure to Warn about Risk of Ketoacidosis, Heart Attacks, Strokes or Kidney Failure from Invokamet;
- Misrepresenting the Invokamet Risks and Safety of the Diabetes Drug;
- Failure to Issue an Invokamet Recall
Invokamet Class Action Lawyers
Potential Invokamet class actions and individual injury lawsuits are being reviewed for individuals throughout the United States who have been required a:
- Foot Amputation
- Leg Amputation
- Multiple Toe Amputations
The makers of Invokamet appear to have placed their desire for profits before consumer safety, by rushing the drug to market to gain an advantage over other competitor in this new, and potentially dangerous, class of diabetes medications.
If adequate warnings had been provided about the potential risk of Invokamet side effects, individuals may have been able to avoid suffering serious and potentially life threatening injuries by choosing to use a different type 2 diabetes drug.
All claims are pursued under a contingency fee agreement, which means that there are no out-of-pocket expenses to hire our Invokamet law firm and we only receive attorney fees or expenses if a recovery is obtained.