Onglyza, a prescription medication used to treat adults with type 2 diabetes, has been allegedly linked to cases of pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, heart failure, and joint pain. Affected patients and families may be eligible to file a Mississippi Onglyza lawsuit and pursue compensation for damages allegedly associated with the medication.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Mississippi 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 is a prescription medication used to control high blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Manufactured by pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, Onglyza belongs to a class of diabetes medications called dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. The drug allows the pancreas to provide the body with insulin, stops the liver from producing excess sugar, and mitigates blood sugar absorption rates. Along with proper diet and exercise, Onglyza should be used as part of an overall plan to treat type 2 diabetes.
Who Takes Onglyza and How Does It Work?
Insulin is a hormone made naturally in the pancreas, a glandular organ found behind the stomach in the upper part of the abdomen. Type 2 diabetes develops when a person’s body does not make enough insulin or when the body does not use insulin efficiently. To treat the condition, adults with type 2 diabetes often make changes in their diet and take prescription medications such as Onglyza. Individuals with type 1 diabetes do not use Onglyza.
Onglyza works by increasing the production of insulin after the consumption of meals to lower blood sugar levels in the body. Incretin (a hormone produced in the intestines) therapies such as Onglyza belong to a specific class of medications known as DPP-4 inhibitors. These types of drugs are designed to heighten and regulate insulin levels within the body.
Onglyza Side Effects and Risks
Like many medications on the market, Onglyza may cause a number of reactions and side effects when used to treat adults with type 2 diabetes. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), common reactions and side effects of Onglyza include:
- Swelling of the face, lips, throat, and skin
- Difficulty with swallowing or breathing
- Hives
- Skin rash, itching, flaking, or peeling
- Upper respiratory tract infection
- Urinary tract infection
- Headache
Onglyza has also been linked to other side effects including:
- Upper respiratory infection
- Pain when urinating
- Headache
- Diarrhea
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sore throat
- Swelling or fluid retention
- Side effects associated with low blood sugar such as shaking, sweating, rapid heartbeat, change in vision, hunger, headache, and change in mood
Onglyza is a popular treatment for type 2 diabetes, however, there are certain risks allegedly associated with the use of the drug, including pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, heart failure, joint pain, and even death.
Pancreatitis and Pancreatic Cancer Risks
According to a warning issued by the FDA in 2013, acute pancreatitis was reported in patients taking Onglyza. If pancreatitis is suspected, patients should stop using the medication and inform their doctor as soon as possible. In addition to risks of pancreatitis, there is a potential for the increased risk of pancreatic cancer from DPP-4 medications, including Onglyza.
Onglyza and Heart Failure
Following a study published in the New England Journal Medicine in 2013, the FDA asked that the makers of Onglyza submit clinical trial data to investigate a possible association between the use of the drug and heart failure. Although the investigation was preliminary, patients were urged to speak with their healthcare provider if they had any concerns.
Joint Pain Associated with Onglyza
An additional warning released by the FDA in 2015 warned of the possible risk of joint pain associated with the use of DPP-4 inhibitors, including Onglyza. The warning advised patients taking DPP-4 inhibitors to contact their doctors or health care professionals promptly if they begin to experience persistent joint pain.
How A Mississippi 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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi. 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 Mississippi today.
