Onglyza attorneys note several safety communications issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in addition to peer reviewed journal articles addressing potential Onglyza side effects and risks, including those related to the pancreas, thyroid, heart, and joints. Affected patients and families may be eligible to file an Onglyza lawsuit and pursue compensation.
For more information, contact Attorney Group 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?
Approved by the FDA in 2009, Onglyza is an oral prescription drug designed to help control high blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. A popular treatment for type 2 diabetes, Onglyza belongs to a group of diabetic medications known as incretin-based therapies, specifically belonging to a class known as dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. As a relatively new class of medication, DPP-4 inhibitors help to balance the release of insulin in the pancreas, stop the liver from making too much sugar, and reduce the rate of glucose absorption.
Who Takes Onglyza and How Does It Work?
Along with diet and exercise, Onglyza is used to treat adults with type 2 diabetes and is sometimes used in conjunction with other drugs to treat diabetes. Saxagliptin, the active ingredient in Onglyza and type of DPP-4 inhibitor, occurs naturally in the body. The active ingredient in Onglyza works to lower blood sugar levels by helping the body increase the production of insulin by inhibiting DPP-4 and then allowing the incretin hormone GLP-1 to remain in the body. This action signals the pancreas to produce more insulin after the consumption of meals.
Onglyza Side Effects
Similar to many medications on the market, Onglyza may cause a number of reactions and side effects when used to treat diabetes. According to the FDA, common allergic reactions of Onglyza include:
- Swelling of the lips, throat, skin, and face
- Difficulty with breathing or swallowing
- Hives
- Skin rash, itching, flaking, or peeling
Additional Onglyza side effects include:
- 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
In addition to some minor allergic reactions and side effects, Onglyza has been linked to several serious, potentially life-threatening side effects including:
- 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.
- Thyroid cancer: Victoza, a drug similar to Onglyza, was indicated in a 2011 FDA safety communication as having a possible association with thyroid cancer in patients who used the drug to treat type 2 diabetes.
- Pancreatitis: According to a warning issued by the FDA in 2013, acute pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) was reported in patients taking Onglyza.
- Pancreatic cancer: In addition to risks of pancreatitis, there is a potential for the increased risk of pancreatic cancer from DPP-4 medications, including Onglyza.
Joint Pain Associated With Onglyza
An additional warning published by the FDA in 2015 warned of the potential risk of joint pain related to the use of DPP-4 inhibitors, including Onglyza. The communication informed patients taking DPP-4 inhibitors of the dangers linked to DPP-4 inhibitors and suggested those using the medication contact their doctors or health care professionals immediately if they begin to experience joint pain.
How an Onglyza Side Effects Attorney 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 Onglyza side effects, 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 Onglyza side effects attorney to learn more about their rights and remedies.
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