Invokana: Dangerous Diabetes Drugs

Invokana is a controversial medicine that helps to lower blood sugar for type 2 diabetes patients.

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Invokana class action lawsuits in 2023 due to patients experiencing severe side effects

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Serious side effects that were not listed on the warning label filed Invokana lawsuits to claim compensation against the drug manufacturer

Last update: January 3rd, 2023

When Invokana was released in the United States, it was viewed as a revolutionary drug that would completely alter treatment for subjects with type 2 diabetes. Many specialists and doctors believed that it would make blood sugar management a lot easier.

However, the drug caused numerous side effects, such as ketoacidosis, bone health problems and kidney failure. People who suffered serious side effects that were not listed on the warning label filed Invokana lawsuits to pursue compensation against the drug manufacturer by filing a case.

The warning signs with Invokana were always present. During the clinical trials of this drug, there were side effects, such as heart attack, stroke and kidney damage. The Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) was concerned about the more serious side effects such as diabetic ketoacidosis, but it allowed the release of the drug as it believed long-term studies would be performed to determine its safety.

On October 16, 2018 Johnson & Johnson agreed to settle a large number of Invokana lawsuits. More settlements are expected in 2023. Bookmark this page to stay updated on the status of Invokana lawsuits. Contact us today for a free case evaluation and to see whether you have a viable claim.

What Is Invokana?

Invokana is a drug of the SGLT2 inhibitors class that is scientifically proven to lower a patient’s blood sugar levels. If adults with type 2 diabetes maintain a proper diet and exercise, Invokana is used to help lower blood glucose levels. The subject takes a pill each morning, which works consecutively to regulate blood sugar in the body. It is also said to lower blood pressure by roughly three to five mmHg, although it is never given to a patient for this reason.

The three most common side effects for Invokana, as listed on the product’s website, are genital yeast infections, changes in urination and urinary tract infections. However, patients who took the drug have reported many other side effects that were not properly listed by the drug company when the product was made available to the public. Because the side effects were so severe, many plaintiffs have filed an Invokana lawsuit.



The article continues after the table of contents.

Dangers Associated with Invokana

Check out the dangers that have been associated with Invokana in the video below and the pain and suffering it has caused. The video also provides information about Invokana lawsuits and trials to date:


Diabetic Ketoacidosis Lawsuits

Even though drug safety studies are still being conducted on Invokana, this does not mean patients have escaped unscathed. Many have reported serious ailments and injuries caused by this drug. The FDA issued two drug safety alerts FDA regarding Invokana in 2015 involving diabetic ketoacidosis and bone health problems. Patients were not made aware of these possible side effects when they were prescribed the drug.

Ketoacidosis refers to a condition where the levels of blood acidity are too high. The condition diabetic ketoacidosis is incredibly serious because the cases involved were serious enough to merit hospitalization. Many patients who were taking Invokana were hospitalized due to suffering from this condition.

Since patients must have an optimal blood pH to maintain organ function, any serious shifts in the body’s blood acidity can result in serious organ damage. Additionally, there are serious consequences associated with the treatment for diabetic ketoacidosis, such as low blood potassium, low blood glucose, brain swelling and abdominal pain.

Bone health problems were also reported on a significant scale, with elderly subjects being more likely to suffer bone fractures, as compared to those patients who were taking a placebo. Patients sustained fractures even though they had only suffered a minor level of trauma. This problem was particularly evident among people aged 75 or older.

Studies from the FDA showed that the level of bone mineral density was decreasing in adults taking Invokana, especially in the hip and lower spine. The strength of a person’s bones is directly related to bone mineral density.

If you’ve suffered any of these serious adverse reactions please contact us to help with your Invokana lawsuit.

Kidney Failure

The first class action lawsuits associated with Invokana were filed by plaintiffs who suffered kidney failure while taking this drug. Two such claims were filed in the United States, and another was filed in Canada.

One of the patients was not even aware her kidney injury could be linked to the drug until seeing the information on television in a commercial. The man was surprised by this news as neither her doctor nor the labels had given any information that suggested kidney failure was among the possible adverse reactions.

The woman in question, Rosalba Joudry, filed a class action lawsuit demanding more than $1 BILLION from Johnson & Johnson, the company that manufactures Invokana. Her class action Invokana lawsuit states the company failed to properly design and test the drug to ensure it was safe before its entry into the Canadian market. The case also alleges the company did not properly declare the possible adverse reactions, including acute kidney injury. If you suffered kidney failure after taking the drug Invokana, you may also be able to file a class action lawsuit. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

Past Diabetes Drugs Cases

The most similar class action lawsuit to Invokana involves Avandia, a type 2 diabetes medication that was released into the market in 1999. The drug resulted in a significant increased risk of suffering a heart attack and was the subject of several class action lawsuits as a result.

More than 50,000 people who had a heart attack while taking Avandia filed a class action lawsuit. The lawsuits were settled in 2010 for more than $750 million. Assessing these old lawsuits not only highlights the time it can take for patients to receive settlement money but also indicates the likelihood of success.

Due to the success of the Avandia lawsuits you should consider contacting us if you have suffered from Invokana. We may be able to help you file a lawsuit.


Black Box Warning

Similar to what happened with Avandia, a black box warning was issued by the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) in June 2017 regarding Invokana. The FDA issued the warning after discovering that taking the medication placed patients at a higher risk of requiring a foot or leg amputation.

Currently, Invokana is linked to some serious conditions – ketoacidosis, cardiovascular problems, kidney failure, bone density decreases and increased risk of amputation.

Any patient who develops issues in their feet or legs, such as pain, ulcers, sores, numbness or infections is encouraged to seek treatment immediately. These patients may also be serious candidates to file a lawsuit against the manufacturer.

The chances of success are much higher given the black box warning issued by the FDA. When such a warning is issued, it means the drug is a serious health risk to those who are using it for treatment. It also means there is a good chance the drug was not tested adequately before being released to the market or being made a part of clinical trials.

Similar warnings against Invokana have been issued in the European Union, where type 2 diabetes patients taking the drug are warned to check their feet and ensure they are keeping a doctor updated about their condition. New warning labels were added to the drug’s packaging in March 2017 in the EU, highlighting the uncommon adverse reaction of lower limb amputation.

The FDA Issues a New Warning

At the end of August 2018, after one patient died and 11 other had to be hospitalized because of a severe genital infection, the FDA issued a new warning to alert patients taking the drug about a newly discovered danger. Together with other SGLT2 inhibitors, Invokana may be linked to a serious risk of developing Fournier’s gangrene, a potentially fatal bacterial infection that quickly spreads through the patient’s body. The regulatory agency had to take action after some people required emergency surgery and even suffered scarring and disfigurement. Since diabetes already is a risk factor for this type of infection, the FDA may require the medication’s label to be changed accordingly.

Despite all those warnings, the Food and Drug Administration never issued a recall, and this dreaded sodium glucose cotransporter 2 has never been taken off the market.

What are the side effects of Invokana?

The side effects of Invokana include both the serious and potentially life-threatening reactions that we listed above, and a series of more common minor issues experienced by many patients. In particular, the most common adverse reactions associated with the use of this drug of the SGLT2 inhibitors class are listed below:

  • increased sensation of thirst
  • increased or more frequent urination
  • urinary tract infections (UTIs)
  • localized itching
  • skin rashes
  • bloating
  • nausea
  • constipation
  • weakness and/or fatigue
  • renal issues and kidney injuries
  • tenderness, redness, swelling
  • bone frailty
  • ketoacidosis

Filing an Invokana Lawsuit in 2024

The best thing injured patients can do if they suspect they were harmed by the drug is to speak with a qualified attorney who has experience handling lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies. Filing a case for ketoacidosis, amputation or any other reason for which a lawsuit on Invokana is filed today can be the only way to pay for medical bills. Not only are qualified attorneys the best chance a patient has of success, they are also helpful in determining whether you have a case in 2023. Fill out the form on this page to see if you qualify for compensation.

It is always a good idea to explore your legal options the moment you learn about the possibility of an Invokana suit. The longer a patient waits, the more difficult it is to prove the connection between the harm and the drug. Patients are also subject to statutes of limitations that limit the amount of time they have to file a lawsuit against a negligent drug manufacturer.

Patients who suffered personal injury because of Invokana should know that they have important rights. Although many of these cases are new, there is the possibility of recovery. With each warning from the FDA and each new addition to the drug’s label of adverse reactions, the cases grow stronger against the manufacturer who was negligent and failed to warn the public about these seried dangers. These types of cases can sometimes take five, ten or fifteen years before they are resolved, but the payout is almost always significant.

If you’ve suffered any type of amputation as a result of Invokana please contact us to help you file a lawsuit.

Is there a mass tort against Invokana?

Since the first lawsuit for Invokana has been filed, the number of cases steadily increased. As per Johnson & Johnson’s 2018 quarterly report, at least 1,200 lawsuits on Invokana got filed in courts across the whole country. Diabetic ketoacidosis isn’t the only adverse reaction that the pharmaceutical company failed to warn about. Each case is a different story, a personal tragedy where someone’s loved one got injured or even died.

An Invokana class action was never filed, but a mass tort was eventually consolidated in late 2017. The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) centralized over one thousand cases in a multidistrict litigation (MDL 2750) in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.

How much is the Invokana lawsuit worth?

It’s always hard to determine how much an individual case could be worth since it depends on several factors. However, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, settled a significant amount of the over 1,100 pending lawsuits on Invokana in October 2018. Although the settlement amount still remains confidential, this means that the chances for recovery are consistent for anyone who got harmed by the effects of the SGLT2 inhibitors drug. Many cases are still pending, though, with 878 active litigations reported as of September 2019 in the New Jersey MDL.

Would You Like to Pursue Legal Action?

If you have just heard about how your health problems could be linked to taking the drug Invokana, contact your doctor immediately. Ask for tests to determine the extent of your personal injury. You can then begin the process of filing a lawsuit.

If you are concerned about how much you would have to pay an attorney, there is nothing to fear. Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you do not pay for their legal services unless you receive compensation for your claim. With lawsuits against drug manufacturers, lawyers are only paid if the lawsuit results in a settlement or a verdict in your favor. It is a risk-free step to get involved in an Invokana lawsuit – get your free case review today.

The specific circumstances surrounding your case will be discussed. Please tell us your story.

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