Invokana, a medication designed to lower blood sugar in adults with Type Two Diabetes, has been making infamous headlines since May of 2016. Lawsuits are grounded in canagliflozin (Invokana®, Invokamet®, Invokamet® XR) causing an increased amputation risk for the leg, foot, or toe(s), also known as “diabetes foot.”

Diabetes destroys the nerve endings in the feet and hardens the blood vessels responsible for carrying blood to the toes, causing loss of feeling in the area. Invokana, a drug made to stabilize the sugar levels within a Diabetic patient, works by forcing the kidneys to remove sugar from the body through urine.

In May of 2016, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed that Invokana is directly linked to increased leg and foot amputations for those taking the drug with Type Two Diabetes. Taking Invokana doubles one’s chances of having a lower-limb amputation due to lower limb infections, gangrene, diabetic foot ulcers, and ischemia. Some cases include patients whom have lost limbs on both sides of their bodies and have gone through multiple amputation procedures due to taking this medication.

There have been recent efforts by the FDA to regulate the intake rate of Invokana, the most notable being the implementation of a new black box warning. A black box warning is the strictest label requirement and must be applied to the medication to warn the people about its risks.

If you took Invokana (canagliflozin), and had a foot, leg, or toe(s) amputated you may be entitled to compensation from the drug manufacturer for not warning both medical professionals and patients about the severe risks of taking this medication. Contact our office at (631) 543-3663 for a free consultation today.

By Aleksandra Aronova