A Missouri Onglyza lawsuit may be an option for patients who took the drug and developed serious complications, including those affecting the pancreas, thyroid and cardiovascular system. Patients who suffer from type 2 diabetes may be prescribed medications such as Onglyza to control high blood sugar. The medication, however, has been allegedly linked to severe side effects, including pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. Affected patients and their families may be able to file a lawsuit and recover compensation with the help of a Missouri Onglyza lawsuit attorney.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Missouri. We offer free, confidential, no obligation consultations. We can help answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a case we can connect you with an affiliated Missouri Onglyza lawsuit attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
What Is Type 2 Diabetes?
According to WebMD, type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease that is characterized by the body’s inability to process sugar. A person who has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes is either unable to produce enough insulin, the hormone that helps to turn glucose into energy in the body, or is resistant to the insulin that the body does produce. When insulin is not produced or does not work effectively, sugar can build up in the bloodstream, with potentially harmful consequences in many of the body’s main organs.
Left untreated, type 2 diabetes can lead to serious complications, according to the Mayo Clinic. Controlling blood sugar levels can help to prevent neuropathy or nerve damage, kidney damage, heart disease, eye damage, hearing problems, fungal or bacterial infections of the skin and Alzheimer’s. For many in the early stages of the disease, symptoms may be limited and may lead some people to ignore the condition.
What is Onglyza and How Does It Work?
While regular exercise and a healthy diet that is low in sugar and carbohydrates are essential to controlling blood glucose levels, prescription medication may be needed to ensure that the levels remain stable. Onglyza is one such medication that doctors often prescribe to help patients improve their A1C levels without dropping blood sugars too low, according to the American Diabetes Association. Onglyza is a member of a class of medications called DPP-4 inhibitors and works by preventing a compound called GLP-1 from breaking down too quickly in the body, which helps to lower blood sugar levels when they are too high.
According to AstraZeneca, the manufacturer of Onglyza, the drug is designed to work with the body to lower blood glucose in the mornings and after meals, when levels can naturally spike without the help of insulin to keep them steady.
FDA Warnings
Since being approved for use to treat type 2 diabetes by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Onglyza has been issued several safety warnings by the administration. As early as 2011, the FDA warned that the drug and other similar medications could cause pancreatitis or even pancreatic or thyroid cancer.
The FDA also released a warning that Onglyza could cause heart failure in patients taking the drug, especially in patients already at risk for cardiovascular problems such as stroke or heart attack. The agency based much of the safety warning on a 2013 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine that found an increase in the rate of heart failure in patients taking diabetes medication containing saxagliptin and alogliptin, such as Onglyza.
Missouri Onglyza Lawsuit Claims
In 2015, a Chicago woman filed a lawsuit on behalf of her mother against AstraZeneca, alleging that the mother’s death was caused by heart failure after taking Onglyza for diabetes treatment for three years. The lawsuit claims that the woman’s use of the drug lead to her hospitalization two times before she died. As more allegations surround the drug come forth, the FDA continues to look into whether or not Onglyza is an appropriate treatment option for those with type 2 diabetes.
How a Missouri Onglyza Lawsuit Can Help
Drug makers have a duty to provide safe products. If there are risks of harm associated with their products, they also must provide adequate warnings. If a drug maker fails to fulfill this duty, it could be held liable in lawsuits for injuries that may result.
People injured by bad drugs may be eligible to recover money for:
- Medical Expenses
- Lost Wages
- Pain and Suffering
The families of those who have died may be eligible to recover money for funeral expenses and the pain that comes with losing a loved one.
The Time You Have to Pursue a Claim is Limited. Contact Us Today.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Missouri. You can fill out the form on this page or contact us by phone or email.
After you contact us, an attorney will follow up to 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.
