Following several warnings issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the diabetes medication Onglyza has been reportedly linked to pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), pancreatic cancer, thyroid cancer, risks associated with the cardiovascular system, and heart failure. Affected patients and families may be eligible to file an Iowa Onglyza lawsuit to recover compensation for damages allegedly associated with the medication.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Iowa 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 and How Does It Work?
Onglyza is an oral diabetes medication that assists in the regulation of blood sugar levels in the body. As part of a complete program to treat diabetes, including diet and exercise, Onglyza is used to treat adults who suffer from type 2 diabetes, a chronic condition that affects the way the body metabolizes blood sugar. Onglyza is only used to treat adults who suffer from type 2 diabetes.
Onglyza belongs to a type of diabetes medications known as dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. Onglyza works by increasing the amount of incretin, a hormone released by the intestines, available in the body. Incretin raises insulin levels when blood sugar is high and decreases the amount of sugar produced by the body.
Onglyza Side Effects and Risks
All medications have some type of side effect. Common reactions and side effects of Onglyza when used as prescribed to treat adults with type 2 diabetes include:
- Severe pain in the upper stomach spreading to the back
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Rapid heart rate
- Pain or burning when urinating
- Swelling of the hands, ankles, or feet
- Easy bruising or bleeding
Less serious side effects of the medication may include:
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Headache
- Stomach pain
Onglyza and Cardiovascular Risks
In April 2015, the 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 show 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
The FDA asked that the makers of Onglyza submit clinical trial data to investigate a potential link between the use of Onglyza 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 or health care provider.
Onglyza and Thyroid Cancer
In a 2011 safety communication, the FDA noted a potential link between the use of Victoza, a diabetes drug similar to Onglyza, and the risk of thyroid cancer. In their report, the FDA recommended that doctors monitor patients who treat diabetes with Victoza and watch for increased signs of thyroid nodules, or small abnormal growths of tissue on the thyroid gland.
Pancreatitis and Pancreatic Cancer Risks
In 2013, the FDA issued a safety communication warning of reported acute pancreatitis in patients taking Onglyza. If patients suspect they may have symptoms of pancreatitis, they should immediately stop using the drug and inform their doctor or health care provider as soon as possible. It is not known whether patients with a history of pancreatitis are at an increased risk for the development of pancreatitis while using Onglyza.
Incretin-based therapies, including Onglyza, have also been allegedly associated with pancreatic cancer. In 2013, the American Diabetes Association issued an article in Diabetes, a peer-reviewed journal focusing on diabetes research, concluding that incretin therapy in humans resulted in a marked expansion of the exocrine and endocrine pancreatic compartments, potentially evolving into cancerous neuroendocrine tumors.
How An Iowa 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 Iowa Onglyza lawsuit attorney to learn more about their rights and remedies.
The Time You Have to Pursue a Claim is Limited. Contact Us Today.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Iowa. 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 Iowa today.
