Invokana is an oral SGLT2 inhibitor medication used to treat type 2 diabetes. It was first released in 2013 and is now quite popular amongst doctors as well as consumers. Unfortunately, people are claiming that they have experienced some serious health conditions while taking Invokana (canagliflozin). Here, we’ll list some important Invokana facts, including FDA warnings as well as potentially deadly diabetic ketoacidosis, stroke, kidney failure and amputation risks. Of course, it’s entirely up to patients to decide whether Invokana side effect dangers may outweigh the drug’s benefits.
5 Important Invokana Facts
1. Invokana Facts: Invokana Lowers Blood Sugar In Type 2 Diabetics
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Invokana in 2013 in order to treat Type 2 diabetes. The medication is classified as a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor drug which effectively works by helping the kidneys eliminate glucose through urine. However, shifting elimination from the kidneys to your bladder can cause serious health complications. If you experience several serious urinary tract infections while taking Invokana, talk to your doctor. Serial UTIs can lead to other, more serious health complications, including kidney failure.
2. Invokana Facts: Generically Known As Canagliflozin
Invokana’s generic name is canagliflozin. As a result, this is the drug name researchers often use instead of Invokana. To find the latest medical studies on Invokana, search for “canagliflozin” in scholar.google.com. You can also limit searches to the most recent 2-3 years to find newer study results. Canagliflozin is also combined with metformin and sold under the branded names Invokamet and Invokamet XR.
3. Invokana Facts: There Are Many Nearly Identical SGLT2 Inhibitors Available
There are several other SGLT2 inhibitors on the market similar to Invokana. Several SGLT2 inhibitor drugs contain the same active ingredient as Invokana, including Invokamet, Farxiga, Xigduo XR, Jardiance, and Glyxambi. However, the FDA warnings about doubled amputation risks don’t apply to all SGLT2 inhibitors. It appears that only Invokana, Invokamet and Invokamet XR double the odds of toe, foot and lower leg amputations for type 2 diabetics.
4. Invokana Facts: It Can Cause Potentially Deadly Side Effects
The FDA released a drug safety communication about Invokana in May 2015. This warning came after multiple adverse event reports linked Invokana and a potentially fatal complication called diabetic ketoacidosis. Ketoacidosis is a serious condition that can cause high levels of acid to form within the blood and potentially lead to coma or death. However, diabetic ketoacidosis is actually rare amongst type 2 diabetics.
5. Invokana Facts: Taking SGLT2 Inhibitors Nearly Doubles The Risk For Leg, Foot and Toe Amputations
In May 2016, the FDA updated Invokana’s black box warning label to mention increased amputation risks. According to data from two large clinical studies, type 2 diabetes patients taking Invokana as well as Invokamet showed nearly 2x the risk for lower limb amputations compared with non-users. As a result, the FDA recently issued two lower-limb amputation warnings for Invokana patients in 2017 alone.
What You Can Do
Attorneys are now accepting claims from patients suffering leg, toe and foot amputations while taking Invokana. If you developed ketoacidosis while taking canagliflozin, you may have an eligible Invokana lawsuit claim. To learn how to get the justice and compensation you deserve, fill out your free claim evaluation today. Once you’ve submitted your information, an experienced lawyer will contact you to discuss your compensation options.
Related: Invokana Overview: Type 2 Diabetics Injured By SGLT2 Inhibitor Drugs
Lori Polemenakos is Director of Consumer Content and SEO strategist for LeadingResponse, a legal marketing company. An award-winning journalist, writer and editor based in Dallas, Texas, she's produced articles for major brands such as Match.com, Yahoo!, MSN, AOL, Xfinity, Mail.com, and edited several published books. Since 2016, she's published hundreds of articles about Social Security disability, workers' compensation, veterans' benefits, personal injury, mass tort, auto accident claims, bankruptcy, employment law and other related legal issues.