As modern medicine has progressed, several medications have been found to have harmful side effects and cause catastrophic harm. Even in rare instances, the severity of the damages is too great to ignore, even though the causes of these side effects vary from person to person.
People with Type 2 diabetes have been exposed to various medications meant to support and affect insulin and blood sugar levels; however, some of these medications’ side effects have proved harmful and occasionally fatal. One such treatment is Januvia, a diabetes medication made by Merck that has been in use for over ten years but was linked to pancreatic disorders after a few years of broad use, among other issues.
Recently, type-2 diabetic medications sold only by prescription, including Invokana, have been taken off the market. These medications have been taken off the market because a severe adverse effect makes them deemed hazardous. Januvia is another diabetes medication that has been linked to recent, severe side effects.
What Is Januvia?
Adults with type-2 diabetes are prescribed the Merck-produced medication Januvia. Additionally, Janumet, a combo pill, contains it. Another diabetes medication called metformin is included in the combination pill. Both medications are expected to raise blood sugar levels when taken as directed. In October 2006, the diabetes medication was approved to treat diabetics.
Januvia and Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes develops when the body cannot produce enough insulin to meet its demands or when the cells cannot effectively use the insulin that is produced. Blood sugar levels are lowered by insulin, and when insulin resistance occurs, blood sugar levels can significantly rise.
Many drugs are prescribed to counteract these harmful effects. With the help of the oral medicine Januvia, the body produces more insulin while producing less glucose in the liver.
These procedures typically take place after meals, when the body is given fresh supplies of glucose.
Januvia is frequently taken in combination with Byetta or other drugs, a good diet, and moderate exercise because it is not meant to be used to manage diabetes on its own.
Problems with the Medicine
After Januvia had been on the market for a while, investigations suggested that the drug may have badly impacted users. There have been claims that patients who took Januvia experienced pancreatic damage and were more susceptible to specific ailments than non-users.
In response to these reports, the Food and Medicine Administration (FDA) did additional research and discovered that the drug could cause several issues, including joint discomfort and pancreatic issues. However, there was no Januvia recall, and Merck carried on with the drug’s distribution without adding any labels or hazard statements.
Numerous negative effects can occur with using the medication, including the following:
- Raised liver enzyme levels
- Legs or hands swelling
- Headache
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Respiratory infection
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Gaining weight
- Sore throat
- Backache
What Are the Januvia-Related Side Effects?
Type 2 diabetes is a condition in which the body produces insufficient amounts of the hormone insulin, which aids in regulating and controlling the body’s blood glucose levels. Patients experience the harmful symptoms of hyperglycemia when blood glucose levels are above a particular range, which can cause long-term harm to the body.
Along with a healthy diet and regular exercise, Januvia, like its sibling Janumet, is a drug that mimics the hormones the pancreas secretes to help patients manage their blood sugar levels.
Soon after Merck & Co. released Januvia, it was found that type 2 diabetes patients who had been prescribed it were suffering from unfavorable side effects. The National Center for Biotechnology published a study in December 2015 that indicated Januvia was connected to an increase in pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis cases. These two illnesses impair the body’s insulin-producing pancreas.
Malignant tumors develop on the pancreas as a result of pancreatic cancer, which also produces symptoms like sadness, lethargy, jaundice, stomach pain, and unexplained weight loss. Abdominal pain, pain after eating, vomiting, nausea, fever, and a quick heartbeat are all signs of pancreatitis. Both of these ailments have the potential to be fatal if left untreated.
Low-grade pancreatitis and an individual’s risk of developing pancreatic cancer are both possible side effects of Januvia. Those who take the drug for an extended period of time have an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer. When necrotizing or hemorrhagic pancreatitis was identified as a significant adverse effect in 2009, the FDA asked Merck to amend the warning label.
The following are some of the most severe side effects and harms detailed in a Januvia Lawsuit:
- Pancreatic Cancer: Pancreatic cancer is an uncommon form of cancer that has few early symptoms, making it challenging to treat.
- Pancreatitis: According to research, Januvia may cause pancreatic inflammation (pancreatitis), which can result in excruciating abdominal discomfort, fever, nausea, and a rapid heartbeat.
- Constant Stomach Discomfort: Some patients have complained of chronic abdominal pain that was not a direct result of pancreatitis. Visit a doctor right now.
- Hypoglycemia: When drugs don’t operate as intended, they may end up causing greater damage. Although Januvia is designed to lower blood sugar, if it falls too low, a patient may have hypoglycemia, which has a number of significant side effects. This can be fatal if untreated.
- Heart Failure: Patients using Januvia reported an 84% increase in ER visits for heart failure, according to research published in JACC Heart Failure.
Can I File a Lawsuit if I Took Januvia and Experienced Serious Side Effects?
Yes. If taking medications like Januvia caused you unanticipated injury, you may be able to hold the medication maker liable for selling you a defective product under the theory of products responsibility.
Patients have filed product liability lawsuit claims against Merck & Co. for the company’s negligence in creating a defective product and failing to warn the public about its dangers due to the link between pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis and the type 2 diabetes medication Januvia that has been discovered.
When people who took Januvia are found to have pancreatic cancer or pancreatitis, the cost of lengthy or repeated hospital visits and treatment can significantly impact how well they can support their families. Several people have obtained compensation for their mental and financial problems throughout their Januvia-related diagnoses.
Additionally, families of patients who have lost their lives due to the negative side effects of Januvia have the legal right to file wrongful death lawsuits against the drug’s producers and distributors to recover damages for funeral expenses, medical expenses, lost support, and lost wages.
Defective Products
A product is deemed defective if it results in the user’s harm or demise as a result of:
- Poor construction
- Faulty manufacturing
- Faulty marketing
It is regarded as a marketing flaw that Januvia’s negative effects are not disclosed. The diabetes medication’s marketing has problems, such as:
- Incorrect labeling
- Insufficient safety advice
- Inadequate directions
This is because Merck failed to warn customers sufficiently and failed to advise those taking the medicine of the elevated risk of pancreatitis.
What Must I Show in a Januvia Side Effects Lawsuit to Be Successful?
To succeed, a plaintiff must establish three elements:
- A hazardous, illogical flaw existed in Januvia.
- Even when the drug was taken as directed, the flaw resulted in the plaintiff’s harm.
- Januvia has not changed from how it was initially offered.
Is Legal Counsel Required for a Januvia Lawsuit?
Life-changing injuries can result from experiencing a side effect for which you ought to have had adequate warning. To find out more about your legal options for pursuing damages for any injury that Januvia may have caused you, speak with a class action attorney.
