A Michigan Onglyza lawsuit may be an option for patients who have suffered severe complications after taking the drug. The diabetes drug Onglyza has been linked to pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, thyroid cancer, heart failure, and even death and is also under scrutiny following safety warnings issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Affected parties may be eligible to seek compensation for damages with the help of a Michigan Onglyza attorney.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Michigan 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.
High Blood Sugar and Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a disease characterized by a failure of the pancreas to produce enough insulin to handle the sugar in the blood, and it affects roughly 27 million Americans, according to WebMD. Insulin is the hormone that assists the cells in transforming glucose to energy. Approximately 86 million adults in the United States have a higher than normal blood sugar level, which is known as prediabetes.
Early symptoms of type 2 diabetes often include excess thirst and urination, exhaustion, irritability and numbness in the extremities. Long-term damage caused by high blood sugar can affect the kidneys, nerves, eyes and heart. Although seeking treatment is essential to prevent these serious health problems, about 8 million people in the United States are unaware that they are already at risk.
Medication Options Doctors May Consider
Although doctors typically recommend a healthy diet and exercise to get blood sugar levels under control, many people also require medication. According to the American Diabetes Association, health care providers have a number of options when it comes to choosing the type 2 diabetes medication that is right for each patient. For example, bile acid sequestrants work to rid the body of LDL cholesterol as well as lowering blood sugar. Sulfonylureas and meglitinides cause more insulin production from the pancreas.
Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors are a new class of drugs that have a number of benefits over others because side effects such as weight gain and hypoglycemia are not a problem. These medications hinder the breakdown of a natural compound in the body, GLP-1, that lowers blood sugar levels. By allowing GLP-1 to continue its job longer, the DPP-4 effectively reduces glucose in the blood, but only when it is necessary.
Pancreatitis and Thyroid & Pancreatic Cancer Risks
In a 2013 safety communication, the FDA stated that there have been reports of acute pancreatitis in patients taking Onglyza. Pancreatitis is a condition that occurs when the pancreas becomes inflamed. Pancreatic damage happens when the digestive enzymes are activated before they are released into the small intestine and begin attacking the pancreas. Although mild cases often subside without treatment, more severe ones can cause complications that are life-threatening.
Studies have also linked diabetes drugs in the incretin mimetic class, including Onglyza, to the possible risk of thyroid cancer. In 2011, the FDA issued a safety communication indicating that Victoza, a diabetes drug very similar to Onglyza, may cause thyroid cancer in patients.
Another serious complication that may be linked to DPP-4 drugs, including Onglyza, is the possibility of an increased risk of pancreatic cancer, a cancer that is difficult to treat because it is often not diagnosed until later stages. In 2013, the FDA issued a report stating that the agency was investigating reports of a possible increased risk of pancreatic cancer from incretin mimetic drugs for type 2 diabetes. Additionally, in March of 2013, a study was published in the medical journal Diabetes, which suggests pancreatic tissue from the use of DPP-4 medications can increase precancerous cellular changes and pancreatic mass.
Onglyza and Heart Failure
With any new medication, the first few years on the market are monitored closely. In 2015, the FDA issued a report stating that Onglyza increases the chances of heart failure, according to WebMD. This is not a factor for all DPP-4 medications.
In April 2016, the FDA reported in a safety announcement that clinical trials have produced evidence indicating patients who took saxagliptin (active ingredient in Onglyza) had a higher rate of hospitalization for heart failure than those who took a placebo. Those who have heart or kidney disease are especially at risk, and the FDA has added this factor to the warning labels on drugs that contain saxagliptin, including Onglyza.
Wrongful Death Onglyza Lawsuits
Other drugs in the same class as Onglyza, like Januvia, were associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer, and people diagnosed with the disease filed hundreds of lawsuits against the manufacturers.
In addition, a woman filed a lawsuit against AstraZeneca after her mother suffered heart failure after taking Onglyza. The lawsuit alleges Onglyza led to the mother’s death in 2013, and the daughter is seeking punitive damages in addition to more than $50,000 in compensation.
How a Michigan 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
- 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 developed cancer 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 Onglyza cancer attorney to learn more about their rights and remedies.
The Time You Have to Pursue a Claim is Limited. Contact Us Today.
If you or a loved one suffered severe side effects or complications after taking Onglyza, contact Attorney Group for Michigan for more information. 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 Michigan today.
