An Arkansas Onglyza lawsuit may be an option for patients who took the medication and suffered from severe health complications. Onglyza, an oral medication used to treat adults with type 2 diabetes, has been allegedly linked to the development of pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, heart failure, and joint pain in patients. Affected patients and families may be eligible to pursue compensation with the help of an Arkansas Onglyza lawsuit attorney.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Arkansas today. Our consultations are free, confidential and without any obligation on your part. We can help answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a claim we can connect you with an affiliated Arkansas Onglyza lawsuit attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
What is Onglyza?
Onglyza is a prescription medication used to control high blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, in adults with type 2 diabetes, a condition in which the body does not produce enough insulin. Manufactured by pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, Onglyza belongs to a class of diabetes medications called dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. The drug helps the pancreas release insulin, stops the liver from making too much sugar, and mitigates glucose absorption rates.
Who Takes Onglyza and How Does It Work?
Onglyza is only used to treat adults with type 2 diabetes, and the medication may be used in conjunction with other diabetes drugs. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), patients who have had past occurrences of pancreatitis, gallstones, a history of alcoholism, and high blood triglyceride levels should talk with their healthcare provider or doctor before taking Onglyza.
Onglyza works to lower blood sugar levels by helping the body increase the production of insulin after the consumption of meals. Incretin-based therapies such as Onglyza belong to a specific class of medications known as DPP-4 inhibitors. These types of drugs are designed to heighten and regulate insulin levels within the body.
Onglyza Side Effects and Risks
Like many medications on the market, Onglyza may cause a number of reactions and side effects when used to treat adults with type 2 diabetes. According to the FDA, common reactions and side effects of Onglyza include:
- Swelling of the face, lips, throat, and skin
- Difficulty with swallowing or breathing
- Hives
- Skin rash, itching, flaking, or peeling
- Upper respiratory tract infection
- Urinary tract infection
- Headache
Onglyza has also been linked to other side effects including:
- Upper respiratory infection
- Urinary tract infection
- Headache
- Diarrhea
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sore throat
- Swelling or fluid retention
- Hypoglycemia and side effects associated with low blood sugar such as shaking, sweating, rapid heartbeat, change in vision, hunger, headache, and change in mood
Although Onglyza is a popular treatment for type 2 diabetes, there are certain risks allegedly associated with the use of the medication, including pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, heart failure, joint pain, and even death.
Pancreatitis and Pancreatic Cancer Risks
According to a warning issued by the FDA in 2013, acute pancreatitis was reported in patients taking Onglyza. If pancreatitis is suspected, the medication should be immediately discontinued and the patient’s doctor should be notified as soon as possible. In addition to risks of pancreatitis, there is a potential for the increased risk of pancreatic cancer from DPP-4 medications, including Onglyza.
Onglyza and Heart Failure
Following a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2013, the FDA requested that the makers of Onglyza submit clinical trial data to investigate a possible association between the use of the medication and heart failure. Although the investigation was preliminary, patients were encouraged to speak with their healthcare provider if they had any concerns.
Joint Pain Associated With Onglyza
An additional warning released by the FDA in 2015 warned of the possible risk of joint pain associated with the use of DPP-4 inhibitors, including Onglyza. The warning advised patients taking DPP-4 inhibitors to contact their doctors or health care professionals promptly if they begin to experience persistent joint pain. Health care professionals are then advised to consider DPP-4 inhibitors as a possible cause of joint pain and stop use if deemed appropriate.
How An Arkansas Onglyza Lawsuit Can Help
Drug manufacturers have a duty to ensure their products are accompanied by full and accurate instructions and warnings to guide prescribing doctors and other health care providers in making treatment decisions. If a drug maker fails to fulfill this duty, it could be held liable in lawsuits for injuries that may result.
Patients who are injured by Onglyza may be entitled to compensation for damages, including:
- Medical expenses
- The permanency of the injury
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish
- Loss of income or ability to work
If a patient dies from complications after taking Onglyza, family members may be entitled to compensation for the wrongful death of their loved one, including:
- Conscious pain and suffering of a loved one prior to death
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish from the loss of a loved one
- Funeral expenses
Patients who have suffered severe side effects after taking Onglyza, as well as the families of those who have died as a result of complications with the drug, are encouraged to seek the advice of an Arkansas Onglyza lawsuit attorney to learn more about their rights and remedies.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Arkansas today. When you contact us, an attorney will follow up with you to speak with you about your case or answer questions that you might have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim or file a lawsuit for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
