Patients take medication to treat conditions and become better. Unfortunately, those drugs are not always safe, as has been found with Onglyza.
Onglyza is a drug available by prescription only. It is intended to help adults suffering from type 2 diabetes. Unfortunately, the drug has been linked to pancreatic cancer, inflammation of the pancreas, joint pain, and heart failure. Many people that have taken the drug have already become harmed. If you or a loved one has been injured by Onglyza, you should contact a Boca Raton product liability lawyer who can help you claim the damages you deserve.
What is Onglyza?
Onglyza is a prescription medication that helps lower the blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. It does this by releasing insulin, and it also prevents the liver from manufacturing too much glucose and slows the rate at which the blood absorbs sugar. Onglyza is a relatively new prescription medication and is part of a group of newer medications for diabetes known as incretin-based therapies.
What are the Risks of Using Onglyza?
Like all drugs, Onglyza can produce some minor allergic reactions and does have some side effects. However, the FDA has released some warnings that are far more severe. Some of those warnings include the risk of:
- Pancreatic cancer: In 2013, the FDA released findings that Onglyza could potentially increase the risk of pancreatic cancer in patients that used Onglyza or other incretin-based therapies.
- Thyroid cancer: In 2011, the FDA found that Victoza, a drug very similar to Onglyza and used for the same purpose, was found to increase a patient’s risk of thyroid cancer.
- Pancreatitis: The FDA also found in 2013 that patients that take Onglyza are at greater risk of developing pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas.
- Heart failure: After a study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the FDA asked the manufacturers of Onglyza to submit data from clinical trials so they could investigate a possible link between heart failure and the use of the medication.
- Joint pain: The FDA warned in 2015 about the risk of joint pain in any patient that took DPP-4 inhibitors, including Onglyza.
Filing a Lawsuit for Damages Caused by Onglyza
Drug manufacturers have a serious responsibility to ensure their drugs are safe. They must also provide warnings and guidance for prescribing doctors to ensure patients are aware of any risk associated with the drug. When they fail to do so, patients can file a lawsuit against the manufacturer. If you have been hurt by Onglyza, you can file a lawsuit to recover medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and more.
Our Product Liability Lawyers in Florida can Help with Your Case
No one should become further harmed when they are simply trying to treat a serious condition such as type 2 diabetes. If you or someone you love has been hurt by Onglyza, our Boca Raton personal injury lawyers at Ged Lawyers, LLP, are here to help. Call us today at (561) 995-1966 or contact us online to schedule a free review of your case.
