There are many prescription drugs Texas residents may take to help manage type 2 diabetes, but not all of them may be as safe as originally thought. Recent studies and public safety announcements have confirmed that the original warnings for the drug canagliflozin may not cover all the associated risks and side effects.
There is a significant need for medicines that help patients with diabetes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are over 100 million American citizens who have diabetes or prediabetes. The statistics show that diabetes rates are growing. This indicates an increasing need for drugs that may help patients who have the disease. Canagliflozin is a diabetes medicine that may exist under several sales names, including Invokana, Invokamet and Invokamet XR.
In recent years, there have been indications that Invokana may be more dangerous than originally thought. In 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released a safety announcement describing new information about the link between the drug and a higher risk of amputation. The FDA created the new warning based on information from two clinical trials of canagliflozin. The trials showed that canagliflozin caused an increased risk of amputations, specifically of the leg and foot. Individuals with certain health issues, including neuropathy and foot ulcers, may have an even higher risk of amputation.
After the clinical trials, the FDA ordered new warnings for canagliflozin drugs. The government organization now requires the drug’s label information to describe the increased amputation risk. Patients who are taking Invokana or other canagliflozin drugs may experience pain, sores or infections in the legs and feet that could lead to amputation. Individuals who have these issues should discuss them with health care professionals. The FDA reminds patients to read and understand the potential risks of taking canagliflozin and to talk with their health care providers about any side effects that occur.
