Onglyza is a Type 2 diabetes medication that lowers blood sugar by increasing the level of insulin after a meal. The medication’s active ingredient is saxagliptin and it belongs to a class of drugs known as DPP-4 inhibitors. DPP-4 inhibitors were found to cause serious side effects including heart failure. Heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body’s demand. Patients were never warned of this gravely serious side effect and suffered severe consequences as a result.
Onglyza is a popular medication choice for those suffering from Type 2 diabetes because it does not cause weight gain, unlike other common Type 2 diabetes medications. Onglyza was previously dubbed a miracle drug, but for those who developed heart failure from taking Onglyza, the medication has been anything but a miracle.
In 2013, a report was published in the New England Journal of Medicine that shows Onglyza increases heart failure-related hospitalizations by 27 percent. The FDA reviewed this study and also concluded that Onglyza might increase the risk of overall death. As a result, the FDA required the manufacturer to add additional warnings to the medication that explicitly states the medications link to heart failure. However, some people believe the medication is so dangerous, it should be taken off the market altogether.
If you are taking Onglyza or another medication containing saxagliptin, and experience signs of heart failure, you should contact your doctor immediately.
Common signs of heart failure include:
-Coughing
-Shortness of breath
-Swelling of feet, legs, or ankles
-Feeling tired or fatigued
-Confusion or memory loss
The manufacturers of Onglyza, AstraZeneca and Bristol-Meyers Squibb, were allegedly aware that the medication could increase a patient’s risk of heart failure and prevented their findings from being released to the public. As a result, thousands of people took Onglyza, without knowing they faced an increased risk of heart failure. For patients who already have heart disease, this increased risk can be especially harmful.
There are also reports that claim Onglyza could increase the risk of developing pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas and can be a precursor to pancreatic cancer. Onglyza stimulates insulin release in the pancreas, which makes many experts fear that changes to the pancreas itself can occur due to this stimulation.
People have started to seek legal action to hold the manufacturers accountable for their negligence. If the manufacturers knew their product could result in heart failure and neglected to inform consumers of this risk, they should be held liable for the damages their medication caused. Several lawsuits have already been filed against the manufacturers of Onglyza. Litigation for Onglyza is in its early stages, therefore no settlements or verdicts have been reached yet.
If you or your loved one has suffered heart failure as a result of taking Onglyza, call the Law Offices of Rudolph F.X. Migliore. We would love to hear your story. At our office, we are with you every step of the way, so you are never alone during the lawsuit process. Call our Long Island Office at (631) 543-3663. At the Law Offices of Rudolph F.X. Migliore, we are your point of contact.