Onglyza, a diabetes medication developed and distributed by AstraZeneca, has been linked to serious side effects, including those affecting the pancreas, thyroid, and cardiovascular system. Affected patients and families may be eligible to file a Pennsylvania Onglyza lawsuit and pursue compensation for damages allegedly associated with the medication.
Fuze/ThinkstockFor more information, contact Attorney Group for Pennsylvania 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?
According to the American Diabetes Association, individuals who suffer from type 2 diabetes cannot produce enough insulin or their bodies cannot use insulin properly. To treat type 2 diabetes, Onglyza may be prescribed in addition to proper diet and exercise. Onglyza is not used to treat people who suffer from type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis.
If patients have kidney disease, pancreatitis, gallstones, high triglycerides, or a history of alcoholism, it is recommended that they speak with their doctor or health care provider before taking Onglyza.
How Does Onglyza Work?
Onglyza belongs to a group of type 2 diabetes medications known as incretin-based therapies, specifically belonging to a class of drugs called dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. Onglyza works by enhancing the body’s natural ability to regulate blood sugar by helping the pancreas secrete more insulin and stop the liver from producing excess sugar after the consumption of meals.
Onglyza Side Effects
Onglyza may cause the following side effects:
- Low blood sugar (also known as hypoglycemia)
- Swelling or fluid retention
- Upper respiratory tract infection
- Urinary tract infection
- Headache
- Rash
- Hives
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Skin peeling
Symptoms associated with low blood sugar such as shaking, hunger, sweating, headache, rapid heartbeat, change in mood, or change in vision may become worse in people who already take other medications to treat type 2 diabetes.
Onglyza Risks
Onglyza has been linked to several serious, potentially life-threatening side effects including:
- Heart failure: Heart failure is a chronic, progressive condition in which the heart muscle is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs for blood and oxygen. Following a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it would evaluate clinical trial data submitted by the manufacturer of Onglyza and investigate whether the medication is linked to an increased risk of heart failure.
- Thyroid cancer: Thyroid cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells begin to grow in the thyroid gland, an organ at the front of the neck that regulates the way the body produces and uses hormones. Victoza, a DPP-4 inhibitor 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: Pancreatitis is a disease in which the pancreas becomes inflamed. The pancreas is a large gland located behind the stomach and next to the small intestine. The pancreas produces important digestive enzymes and hormones into the small intestine to aid in the digestion of food. A healthy pancreas produces the right chemicals at the right times in the appropriate quantities so that our bodies can properly digest food. According to a warning issued by the FDA in 2013, acute pancreatitis was reported in patients taking Onglyza.
- Pancreatic cancer: Pancreatic cancer begins in the tissues of the pancreas and often has a poor prognosis, even when diagnosed early. Pancreatic cancer typically spreads rapidly and is rarely detected in its early stages, which makes it a leading cause of cancer deaths. As of 2013, the FDA began investigating and evaluating unpublished findings suggesting the potential increased risk of pancreatitis and pre-cancerous cellular changes in patients who used incretin mimetic medications, including Onglyza.
How A Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania. 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 Pennsylvania today.
