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Invokana: Be careful with this dangerous diabetes drug

| Mar 2, 2018 | Products Liability

Invokana is not the miracle drug it is purported to be. The type 2 diabetes medicine has left numerous patients with devastating injuries. Called by various names – such as canagliflozin and Invokamet – this drug is in the same class of treatments known as dapagliflozin, Farxiga and Xigduo XR. All of these drugs pose a serious threat to the kidney health of the patients who take them.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently strengthened its warnings attached to the above-named drugs to highlight the risk of acute kidney injury. It’s vital that patients fully understand the FDA warning associated with these drugs to ensure that the potential health benefits truly outweigh the risks involved.
What should you do if you have an acute kidney injury?
Acute kidney injury – also known as kidney failure – is a serious medical concern that happens when the kidneys stop functioning. The result is waste build up within the body, which leads to serious health complications. The first symptoms of acute kidney injury include decreased urine and increased swelling of the feet and legs.
Patients who experience the above symptoms after medicating with Invokana, or the other drugs referenced above, may be tempted to stop taking their prescribed medications. However, this could lead to harmfully fluctuating blood sugar levels. Symptomatic patients should immediately call their doctors and rely on the life-saving advice their doctors provide.
Preventing canagliflozin or dapagliflozin injuries requires care
Doctors need to evaluate each patient on a case-by-case basis before prescribing canagliflozin or dapagliflozin. It’s vital for physicians to look for signs of decreased blood volume and histories of kidney insufficiency or congestive heart failure. Doctors should ensure that patients are not taking conflicting medications such as diuretics, the blood pressure control medicines angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Doctors must evaluate kidney function before prescribing canagliflozin or dapagliflozin and continue to monitor patient kidney function on a regular basis. In the case of acute kidney failure, doctors might respond by providing safe alternative treatments for type 2 diabetes and effective treatments for the impaired kidneys.
Did you suffer from acute kidney failure?
If you suspect that a dangerous drug or defective medication caused you to suffer from kidney failure, you may want to investigate the issue deeper. First, you’ll want to pinpoint the exact cause of your kidney failure. Second, you’ll want to determine whether the law supports a product liability claim for financial compensation. The more you know about the extent and cause of your injuries, the better you’ll be able to determine the viability of your potential claim.

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