If you suffer from diabetes, then you know the risk of lower limb amputation is all too common. But what you might not know is that the medications you take to control your diabetes could actually be raising your risks of amputation by a significant amount.
If you take Invokana for diabetes and have suffered an amputation of the toe, foot, or leg, then the drug may be to blame in this case.
The diabetes medication Invokana has been the subject of lawsuits regarding the increased risks of kidney failure or ketoacidosis, but recent research suggests that Invokana patients may be twice as likely to undergo lower limb amputation versus those with diabetes who aren’t taking the medicine.
What is Invokana?
Invokana is the brand name of a drug known generically as Canagliflozin. The drug is meant to help patients with type 2 diabetes to regulate their blood sugar levels and keep them from getting too high. The drug is not meant to treat type 1 diabetes.
Invokana is manufactured by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a division of Johnson & Johnson. They also sell a version of the drug called Invokamet, which adds another diabetes drug, Metformin. However, the presence of Canagliflozin in Invokamet may also lead to increased risk of amputation.
Invokana Clinical Trial
The problems initially began when researchers were investigating warnings that Invokana could lead to heart attacks, which launched a clinical trial known as CANVAS to investigate the claim.
The study followed patients over the course of years as they took Invokana. A disturbing trend was noticed: the patients taking Invokana suffered a far higher rate of amputation compared to patients who were taking a placebo drug.
The reasons for the increased amputations aren’t clear, but it prompted the FDA to notify the public of the potential danger in May 2016.
Invokana Amputations
The most common amputation suffered by those taking Invokana is the loss of a toe. It may be the loss of one or more toes, either all at once or over multiple amputations.
The loss of a toe can have serious consequences, particularly if it is the big toe which plays a more prominent role in walking compared to the others.
Loss of a foot or leg (both below and above the knee) have also occurred among Invokana patients, which is obviously a much more traumatic loss. You can expect some amount of physical therapy following amputation, the possibility of learning to use a prosthesis, as well as feelings of grief and problems with body image and self worth.
Invokana Legal Claims
Suffering an amputation of a toe, foot, or leg due to a drug that is meant to help you manage your type II diabetes is a devastating blow. Not only must you face the pain and disability that ensues, but you often have incurred a considerable financial burden with medical bills and physical therapy. Meanwhile, the drug manufacturer continues to make hundreds of millions of dollars in profits, despite the dangers posed by drugs like Invokana.
Nothing can replace your missing limb, but you deserve compensation for the economic damages caused by medical bills and lost wages, as well as for your pain and suffering.
If you’ve suffered an amputation or other complications as a result of Invokana or Invokamet, then you must speak to an experienced Houston Invokana law firm like Fears Nachawati. Having the right team on your side during this difficult and emotionally trying time can make all the difference, and can help ensure you receive the maximum amount of compensation you are entitled to.
For your free, no obligation legal consultation, please call (866) 705-7584, or visit the Houston office of Fears Nachawati on Kirby Drive. Offices are also available in Dallas, Austin, Fort Worth, and San Antonio.