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Invokana makes a distinction over traditional medications designed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The new drug is advertised as a pill to be simply taken once per day and can even help patients with their weight loss goals. After a few short months since it's been introduced in the market, people started experiencing potentially serious, life-threatening side effects. Find out all about this new-generation drug and how it continues to put patients at risk. What Is Invokana? A 2012 statitistic by the ADA revealed nearly 30 million Americans affected by type 2 diabetes. Invokana is the #1 prescribed drug with over 8 million prescriptions as of today, according to an FDA report. Invokana is primarily used to lower blood sugar of type 2 diabetes patients, in addition to diet and exercise. It is not intended for patients who have type I diabetes. How Does It Work? Invokana works by blocking glucose reabsorption in the kidney, and thereby removes excess glucose through the urine. Approximately 119grams of blood glucose is eliminated with daily use of Invokana. The drug's main ingredient is known as canagliflozin which is categorized as an SGLT2 (sodium-glucose co-transporter 2) inhibitor. SGLT2 pertains to a transport protein responsible for at least 90% of glucose reabsorption in the kidney, with SGLT1 accounting for the remaining 10%. Who Manufactures Invokana? Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary and under license of Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, markets Invokana in the US. How Do You Take Invokana? Invokana is an oral medication taken once a day, before your first meal. Available in two strengths, the recommended starting dose is 100mg (yellow tablets), which may be increased to 300mg (white tablets) to type 2 diabetes patients who tolerate the drug well and still requires additional glycemic control. Invokamet -A combination of the Invokana main ingredient canagliflozin and metformin, the first-line medication for type 2 diabetes treatment that's been used since 1995 in the United States. Invokamet oral tablets arrive in 4 strengths (mg canagliflozin/ mg metformin) 50 mg/ 500 mg 50 mg/ 1000 mg 150 mg/ 500 mg 150 mg/ 1000 mg How Much Is Invokana? The cost of Invokana is relatively expensive compared to traditional medications for type 2 diabetes such as metformin. Without insurance, the marked down price using an online discount card would be around $14 per pill or $420 for 30 pills. In 2016, some insurance plans dropped Invokana. Janssen Pharmaceuticals offers privately insured patients a $0 per-month co-pay savings card, and patient assistance programs to those insured under federal programs and patients with no insurance. Does Invokana Have a Generic Version? No. The first Invokana patent won't expire until 2024. Are there Similar Drugs in the Market? Since Invokana has been approved by the FDA, two other SGLT2 inhibitors have been approved- Dapagliflozin and Empagliflozin. What are Potential Invokana Side Effects? Common Side Effects: -Changes in urination -Dehydration -Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) -UTI (Urinary Tract Infection) -Vaginal yeast infection -Yeast infection of the penis Less Common Side Effects: -Blood pressure drop when standing -Bone fracture -Decreased bone density -Dry mouth -Excessive thirst -Extreme loss of body water -Increased cholesterol -Increased hemoglobin levels -Infrequent or incomplete bowel movements -Genital itching -Hives -Hypotension (low blood pressure) -Hypermagnesemia (high levels of magnesium in blood) -Hyperkalemia (high potassium in blood) -Kidney problems -Low energy -Nausea -Pancreatitis -Serious allergic reactions -Sepsis -Sun-sensitive skin -Stomach cramps -Weakness or feeling faint Positive Side Effects: A potentially positive side effect is weight loss in patients, given weight management is essential in diabetes treatment. Nearly 500 calories is shed off along with excess sugar that passes through urine. What Is Diabetic Ketoacidosis? A serious, life-threatening diabetes complication often linked to type 1 diabetes. However, an increasing number of type 2 diabetes patients have been diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosis after using Invokana. The condition occurs when there are insufficient amounts of insulin in the body. Without insulin which helps sugar/glucose enter bodily cells to fuels muscles and various tissues, the body tends to break down fat as fuel rather than sugar. This causes a buildup of acids or ketones in the bloodstream, which leads to diabetic ketoacidosis when left untreated. Diabetic ketoacidosis is generally characterized by hyperglycemia or high levels of blood sugar. Patients who took Invokana did not exhibit this, which led to misdiagnoses or prolonged findings in some patients. Without hyperglycemia, the condition is then called euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis. Diabetic Ketoacidosis Symptoms Symptoms develop quickly and typically becomes prominent within 24 hours, including: -Abdominal pain -Confusion -Excessive thirst -Frequent urination -Fruity breath -Nausea and vomiting -Shortness of breath -Weakness Has the FDA Issued Warnings about Invokana? Yes. Several warnings have been issued bythe FDA during the few years Invokana was out on the market. Most warnings contained alerts of the drug's possible adverse side effects following this timeline: May 2014 - Drug Interactions Updated 2015 March - Increased Risk for Genital Infections September - Increased Risk for Bone Fractures; Use in Specific Populations Updated May/December - Risk of Diabetic Ketoacidosis December - Risk of Severe UTIs March 2016 - Hypersensitivity Warning Has Invokana Been Recalled? No. Neither the FDA nor the makers of Invokana has issued a recall. Are There Lawsuits Against Invokana Manufacturers? If you or a loved one was negatively affected by the prescription drug, you have the right to make a claim for compensation. Attorneys are currently accepting Invokana or Invokamet cases involving patients who took it and later developed diabetic ketoacidosis, urinary tract infections, or renal failure. Finding the right lawyer is a crucial step in order to support your claim, get the amount of compensation you deserve, and make everything less complicated. Legal Outreach Center can help. We're not a law firm, but a Legal Referral Service connecting people who've experienced harmful effects of prescription drugs or medical devices to attorneys who've won Million Dollar Verdicts. By choosing a Lawyer or Law Firm under our network, you can rest assured that your case will be handled by a real litigator in front of a jury or the judge. There's no worry that your settlement might be diluted, which is often what happens when one opts for a boutique law firm who typically sends cases out numerous times. |
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