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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), first approved Januvia, or sitagliptin, in October 2006. Although the medication is intended to help type 2 diabetes patients better control their blood sugar levels, the drug has recently been linked to an increased risk of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. According to several clinical trials, Januvia prevents the patient’s body from warding off cancer cells, leaving the patient vulnerable to serious and life-threatening complications.
According to the manufacturer, Januvia stimulates insulin production in the pancreas in an effort to assist the body in using the insulin in a more efficient and effective way. However, patients throughout the U.S. are currently filing claims to seek compensation for their injuries, alleging that the drug caused thyroid cancer, kidney failure, pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, among other health conditions. If you have been adversely affected by the medication, contact a Florida Januvia lawyer to learn more about your legal rights.
Nearly every prescription medication may cause common and non-threatening side effects; Januvia patients may experience pain in the stomach, swelling, nausea or fever. However, patients who have been diagnosed with kidney damage, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, pancreatitis or thyroid cancer may consider working with a Florida Januvia lawyer to pursue a claim in an attempt to recover compensation for their injuries.
As of 2012, the FDA had reportedly received 14,684 adverse event reports from patients taking Januvia. According to the FDA’s records, 1,942 patients required hospitalization and 765 demonstrated unusually high blood glucose levels. Additionally, acute pancreatitis was noted in 625 percent of patients, leading the FDA to question the safety of the medication.
Several clinical trials have concluded that Januvia could cause inflammation in the pancreas, or pancreatitis. Unfortunately, the symptoms of pancreatitis are not always apparent, and patients may not realize they have a life-threatening disease until it is too late. While pancreatitis is often treatable if caught early, if it goes undetected, it can progress into pancreatic cancer. Statistics show that few patients live past the first year following a pancreatic cancer diagnosis. You may be entitled to file a wrongful death claim with a Florida Januvia lawyer if a loved one passed away from pancreatic cancer while taking Januvia.
Most recently, the Institute for Safe Medication Practices found in 2013 that Januvia patients were at a 25-fold increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer. Using this information, the FDA acknowledged that the agency would be conducting its own clinical trials in an effort to learn whether incretin mimetics including Januvia, Janumet, Victoza and Byetta truly do increase a patient’s risk of adverse and life-threatening complications.
Contact a Florida Januvia Lawyer to File Your Claim
If you have been injured while taking Januvia and would like to learn about filing a claim or if you have any questions or concerns regarding the legal action that you may be entitled to take, contact Attorney Group for Florida today. We will help answer your questions and connect you with a Florida Januvia lawyer who will handle your lawsuit. So contact Attorney Group for Florida today for your free consultation.
