According to several warnings released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the diabetes drug Onglyza has been reportedly linked to conditions affecting the pancreas and cardiovascular system, including pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, and heart failure. Affected patients and families may be eligible to file an Oklahoma Onglyza lawsuit and pursue compensation for damages allegedly associated with the medication.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Oklahoma 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 drug that assists in the management of blood sugar levels in the body. As part of a complete program 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 stores sugar in the blood. Onglyza is only used to treat adults who suffer from type 2 diabetes and should not be used to treat type 1 diabetes.
Onglyza is a type of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor. The medication works by mimicking incretin, a hormone released by the intestines, to naturally stimulate insulin levels when blood sugar is high and decreases the amount of sugar produced by the body after eating food.
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
Cardiovascular Risks and Heart Failure
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.
The FDA requested that the makers of Onglyza submit clinical trial data to investigate a possible association between the use of Onglyza and heart failure after the SAVOR study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2013. As a result of the study, EMDAC members voted to add new safety information to the medication’s labeling warning patients of the potential for cardiovascular risks associated with the diabetes medication.
Onglyza and Thyroid Cancer
In a 2011 safety communication, the FDA noted a potential link between the use of Victoza, a diabetes medication similar to Onglyza, and the risk of thyroid cancer. In their report, the FDA recommended that doctors observe individuals who treat diabetes with Victoza and look 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. According to a study conducted in 2013 and published in the medical journal Diabetes, pancreatic mass increased approximately 40% in patients treated with incretin therapy as opposed to patients who were not. The study also noted a relationship between incretin-based therapies such as Onglyza and potentially cancerous abnormal cellular growth in the tissues of the pancreas.
How An Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma. 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 Oklahoma today.
