Invokana is a drug sometimes prescribed by doctors to Type 2 diabetics as a way of helping to lower sufferers’ blood-sugar level. Invokana is an “SGLT-2 inhibitor,” which means that it forces the patient’s kidneys to increase the amount of sugar sent out of the body in the urine.

As diabetes is the 7th most common cause of death in the U.S. and as Type 2 diabetes can ultimately lead to such devastating consequences as loss of vision, nervous system damage, hypertension, cardiac disease and stroke, and kidney failure, it is no wonder that creative ways to combat it are sought out.

However, when a drug is unnecessarily prescribed and then harms its users as much or more than the disease itself, legal compensation is in order. At the Law Offices of Ronald B. Laba, we protect the rights of victims of negligent prescription drug manufacturers, and we are representing victims of Invokana’ s manufacturer specifically.

About “the Invokana Lawsuit”

Invokana, used along with dietary constraints and appropriate exercise, is supposed to help keep blood-sugar levels down for Type 2 diabetics and help achieve good glycemic control. Many former users of Invokana, however, have joined in a lawsuit against its manufacturer, alleging they were not adequately warned about the dangers of Invokana. These dangers include an increased risk of heart attack, kidney failure, keto-acidosis, and more. (Keto-acidosis is an unhealthy build-up of highly acidic “ketones” in the bloodstream.)

Plaintiffs allege that, with proper warning labels, doctors would have prescribed different medications to their patients and that the health-monitoring of diabetics would have been closer, which would have allowed warning signs of heart disease, kidney failure, and high ketones levels to have been detected.

The Invokana lawsuit is complicated by the fact that “Invokana-like” drugs come under a variety of brand names. All of them have active ingredients that can increase the risks of developing kidney disease, heart disease, and/or keto-acidosis. The commonly sold brand names in question, along with their active ingredients, are as follows: Invokana, Canagli-flozin; Invokamet, Canagli-flozin and Metformin; Glyxambi, Lina-gliptin and Empa-gli-flozin; Jardiance, Empa-gli-flozin; Farxiga, Dapa-gli-flozin; and Xigduo-XR, Dapa-gli-flozin and Metformin.

If you have been harmed or think you may have been harmed by any of the above-mentioned drugs, do not hesitate to contact Attorney Ron Laba at 800-490-2222for a free legal consultation.

What are the Risks of Invokana?

Using Invokana has been shown to have problematic side effects that can even be fatal. As mentioned above, the main risks to Invokana users are kidney failure, heart attack, and keto-acidosis. We will look at each one of these in a little more detail below:

1. Kidney Failure

If your kidneys cease to function, your life will soon end. If they cease to function properly, various conditions can arise. The kidneys are involved in cleansing the blood of waste materials, maintaining good electrolyte balance, keeping blood pressure normal, and even in manufacturing new red blood cells. When these vital functions are impaired, toxins can build up in your body and result in a variety of symptoms, including exhaustion, shortness of breath, disorientation, and abnormal heart rhythm.

2. Heart Attack

Also known as “myo-cardial infarction,” heart attacks lead to cell-death in the heart due to unduly restricted blood-flow. When your arteries become blocked, oxygen fails to reach your heart, which leads to the permanent death of heart tissue. This condition of a “starved and dying heart” is technically known as “cardiac ischemia.”

3. Keto-acidosis

When high-acid “ketones” build up in your body, you may be hospitalized, fall into a “diabetic coma,” or even lose your life. If your body cannot produce sufficient insulin, which assists in glucose transport and energy production, it will resort to breaking down fats as an alternative energy source. When this is done excessively, however, it can lead to the build-up of toxic by-products called “ketones” in the blood stream.

What to Do If You Are Already Taking Invokana

Besides the general risks mentioned above, you have an increased risk of Invokana complications if any of the following apply to you:

• You some form of kidney, liver, or heart disease.
• You suffer from high or low blood pressure.
• You are hyperkalemic or have another electrolyte imbalance.
• You have high cholesterol levels.
• You take insulin, are on a low salt diet, or take some kind of diabetes medication.

It is not presently known if Invokana has harmful effects on an unborn or breast-fed child, but those who are or may become pregnant should be careful to consult their doctor before taking Invokana. Those in the above-listed high-risk categories should do the same.

If you are already on Invokana or any other SGLT-2 inhibiting drug, you should carefully watch for any negative side effects and immediately inform your physician of any problems. We do not recommend to stop taking Invokana without first consulting with your doctor, but watch for symptoms such as these:

• Unexplained fatigue and/or drowsiness
• Dizziness and mental confusion
• Nausea and vomiting
• Abdominal and/or chest pains
• Heightened heart and/or respiration rate
• Hyperventilating or difficulty breathing
• Unusual urination patterns
• A feeling of general weakness

These and other symptoms may be signs of the onset of kidney failure, heart trouble, or keto-acidosis. Take care to monitor yourself for these symptoms and/or to get someone else to monitor you. If problems arise, do not hesitate to contact your physician or to seek medical help without delay.

Will Invokana Lawsuits Be Combined as a “Class Action” Suit?

At the Law Offices of Ronald B. Laba, we have decided against trying to handle our Invokana suits as a “class action.” “Class Action” is a very specific legal term that refers not only to a group of plaintiffs filing together against a single entity but also includes the idea that a small subset of victims litigate in behalf of a larger group. The settlement, then, is binding on the whole group.

We believe it is best to pursue Invokana claims with a “multi-district litigation” (MDL) suit instead. This means that, while individual cases are heard by a single judge at one time and place, each case is still distinct. Thus, you are not forced to settle just because others have. You can make your own decisions instead of being bound by the action of the group. We will also be there to arm you with the knowledge you need to make a truly informed decision.

Contact Attorney Ron Laba Today

At the Law Office of Ronald B. Laba, we work on a contingency basis, meaning we collect nothing unless you collect first. We do not charge you upfront nor hidden fees. Unless we serve you well, we work for free.

If you are taking or have taken Invokana or a similar drug and believe you may have been injured by its use, do not hesitate to contact us for a free and fully confidential case evaluation. We have a team of experienced experts on the effects of Invokana and the legal details of when you are entitled to compensation and how to obtain it. We will fight for you and work to maximize your claim.

Call us toll-free, 24/7 at 800-490-2222, and we will waste no time in assisting you with your case.

INVOKANA® – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: What is Invokana®?
A: Invokana (canagliflozin) is one of several drugs that belong to a new class of medications called sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. Normally, when a person eats the body produces insulin to process sugar that enters the body. In people with Type 2 diabetes, this response no longer works the way it should, and they develop insulin resistance. Eventually, the pancreas can’t keep up with the demand for insulin and sugar levels rise to dangerous levels. Invokana and other SGLT2 inhibitors work by preventing sugar from being reabsorbed into the blood.

Q: How does Invokana® work?
A: While many drugs work to increase insulin, Invokana works by stopping glucose from being reabsorbed into the blood in the kidneys. It acts by inhibiting a special protein in the kidney called SGLT2 that is responsible for reabsorbing 90 percent of the glucose in the kidneys. Instead of reabsorbing the sugar, the kidneys secrete it, and it leaves the body during urination. This results in lowered levels of glucose in the blood.

Q: What Side Effects have been associated with Invokana®?
A: In short, this drug has been linked to kidney problems, keto-acidosis, coma, and heart attack, among others. Lawsuits allege the manufacturer of Invokana failed to provide adequate warnings and communications to the medical community and end line consumers of the increased risk of serious and life threatening medical complications associated with these drugs.

Q: Are there any other drugs in the same class as Invokana that are subject to this case?:
A: Yes – we are taking cases involving any of the following drugs: Invokamet®(Canagliflozin and Metformin); Farxiga® (Dapagliflozin); Xigduo® (Dapagliflozin and Metformin extended-release); Jardiance® (Empagliflozin); and Glyxambi (Empagliflozin and Lingaplintin)

Q: Who is this case against?
A: This is a case against the manufacturers of Invokana® – Johnson & Johnson, Janssen Pharmaceutical, and their affiliated companies.

Q: Is my Doctor or Hospital going to be brought into the case?
A: No, this is not a case against any doctors, hospitals, pharmacies or any other health care provider. We believe fault lies solely with the manufacturers of the product.

Q: Will I owe any fees or costs if I don’t win my case?
A: No, if you don’t win, you don’t pay. We only get paid if we successfully settle your case for an amount approved by you in writing in advance. Thus, if we take your case, you can have a peace of mind knowing that we have a reasonable expectation of success.

Q: Is this a class action case?
No. We do not favor class actions for our injured clients. A class action is essentially a large group of plaintiffs, known collectively as “the class”. The class is represented by a class representative, who stands for the rest of the class. This means that all members of the class are treated as one plaintiff, not separately.
Instead, we file cases individually or in a “mass tort” action. Clients still achieve strength in numbers by joining together against a common defendant but they do not lose their right to be treated as individuals. This is important because every case is different and each person’s own set of facts and circumstances needs to be taken into account in order to understand the true nature and extent of their damages. We believe this kind of approach is necessary in order to achieve maximum payment on the case.

Q: Who can I call if I would like more information?
A: Feel free to call us at 1-800-490-2222. Our job is to make sure all of your questions are answered fully and completely.

Law Offices of Ronald B. Laba, APC
www.drug-injury-lawyer.com