Onglyza, a diabetes medication developed and distributed by AstraZeneca, has been linked to serious side effects, including those affecting the pancreas, thyroid, and cardiovascular system. Affected patients and families may be eligible to file a Georgia Onglyza lawsuit and pursue compensation for damages allegedly associated with the medication.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Georgia 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 attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
What is Onglyza?
Onglyza, also known generically as saxagliptin, is used in conjunction with a proper diet and exercise to control high blood sugar. Approved in 2009, Onglyza belongs to a relatively new class of incretin-based therapies known as dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors.
Who Takes Onglyza and How Does It Work?
Type 2 diabetes affects approximately 90–95 percent of all cases of diagnosed diabetes in the United States. Onglyza is designed to treat only adults suffering from type 2 diabetes. People with a history of pancreatitis, gallstones, alcoholism, and high blood triglyceride levels should talk with their doctor before taking the medication.
Onglyza works by increasing levels of substances known as incretins, hormones that help control blood sugar levels by increasing insulin levels after eating meals. The DPP-4 inhibitors in medications such as Onglyza are used to improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes; however, there are a number of risks allegedly associated with the use of such medications.
Onglyza Side Effects and Risks
Like many prescription medications, Onglyza may cause a number of reactions and side effects when used as prescribed to treat adults with type 2 diabetes. Common side effects of Onglyza include:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Sore throat
- Urinary tract infection
- Swelling or fluid retention
- Headache
- Stuffy or runny nose
- Upper respiratory tract infection
- Low blood sugar
Onglyza is often used with other medications to treat symptoms of type 2 diabetes. As a result, the risk of low blood sugar is higher. Symptoms of low blood sugar may include shaking, hunger, sweating, headache, rapid heartbeat, change in mood, and change in vision.
Onglyza and Cardiovascular Risks
In April 2015, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee (EMDAC) voted that the results of the Saxagliptin Assessment of Vascular Outcomes in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus (SAVOR) study demonstrate that the use of saxagliptin (Onglyza) in patients with type 2 diabetes has an acceptable cardiovascular risk profile. Likewise, EMDAC members voted to supplement the medication’s labeling and add new safety information.
Onglyza and Heart Failure
In 2014, 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 following the SAVOR study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2013. Although the study was seen as preliminary, patients were encouraged to discuss any concerns they may have with their doctor.
Pancreatitis and Pancreatic Cancer Risks
Issued by the FDA in 2013, a safety communication noted that acute pancreatitis was reported in patients taking Onglyza. If pancreatitis is suspected, patients should immediately stop using the drug and notify their doctor or health care provider as soon as possible. It is unknown whether patients with a history of pancreatitis are at an increased risk for the development of pancreatitis while using the medication.
Pancreatic cancer has also been allegedly associated with the use of incretin-based therapies, including Onglyza. Pancreatic cancer is difficult to treat because it is often not diagnosed until later stages of the disease. Additionally, the American Diabetes Association published an article in the peer-reviewed journal Diabetes in 2013. The article concluded that incretin therapy in humans resulted in a marked expansion of the exocrine and endocrine pancreatic compartments, potentially evolving into cancerous neuroendocrine tumors.
How A Georgia 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 a Georgia Onglyza lawsuit attorney to learn more about their rights and remedies.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Georgia. You can fill out the form on this page, call us at the number listed at the top of the page, or email us at info@attorneygroup.com.
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.
See our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information, and contact Attorney Group for Georgia today.
