Januvia and Janumet claimed to combat diabetes with minimal side effects. But now the Food and Drug Administration has released a warning that these medications can cause acute pancreatitis, a painful and even fatal disease. Eighty-eight cases have been reported so far, but there could be many more. With the release of Janument, the generic form of Januvia, more and more consumers are gaining access to the potentially dangerous drug. If you have expereinced harmful side effects of Janument or Januvia, contact our Januvia side effects lawyers to discuss your case.
What are Janument and Januvia Diabetes Drugs?
Januvia is the trade name for “sitagliptin,” an anti-diabetic drug developed and marketed by Merck & Co. Janumet is an anti-diabetes medication that combines Januvia and meformin. These drugs were commonly prescribed to combat type-2 diabetes but the Food and Drug Administration has recently discovered that the drugs are more dangerous than previously thought.
THE SIDE EFFECTS OF JANUVIA AND JANUMET
While the only side affects originally reported from clinical trials of Januvia were nausea and common-cold symptoms, the Food and Drug Administration has now issued a warning that these drugs can cause severe and even fatal pancreatitis. Between October 2006 and February 2009, there have been 88 cases of acute pancreatitis, including two cases of hemorrhagic or necrotizing pancreatitis in patients using Januvia.
Acute pancreatitis is a sudden inflammation of the pancreas, which can have severe complications and even be fatal. The most common symptom is pain. The pain may come on suddenly or build gradually, but may become very severe. The pain usually is centered in the upper middle or upper left part of the abdomen and may radiate to the back. People suffering from acute pancreatitis may also experience nausea, fever, chills, rapid heartbeat, and the abdomen may become swollen and tender to the touch.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE TAKEN JANUVIA OR JANUMET AND DEVELOP PANCREATITIS
Anyone taking Januvia or Janumet who suspects he or she may have acute pancreatitis should consult a medical professional immediately. It is a dangerous condition that can be fatal.
While people are conditioned to trust their doctors and the drug companies to be sure the products are safe, it is not always true. People who took Januvia and Janumet believed they had found a drug with minimal side effects to combat their diabetes, but now they are suffering because they were not given adequate warning about the dangers of the drugs. They are at risk of developing a dangerous and deadly disease.
If you or someone you love has been injured by Januvia or Janumet, you need to take action. Contact the Januvia injury lawyers at the Oklahoma law firm of AMA Law today to schedule an initial consultation.