Wolf & Pravato's Blogs: Onglyza and Heart Failure Risks

For people with type 2 diabetes, Onglyza is a hypoglycemic drug that can help maintain healthy insulin levels. But as with all potentially life-saving medications, there are risks associated with Onglyza use which in themselves can be life threatening. In 2014, the FDA started looking into the link between Onglyza and heart failure, and earlier this year warned that type 2 diabetes medicines like Onglyza “may increase the risk of heart failure, particularly in patients who already have heart or kidney disease.”

Here’s what you need to know about potential side effects of Onglyza, and where to find help if you’ve been injured by your type 2 diabetes medication.

Onglyza on the Heart

Onglyza is the marketing name for the drug saxagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor that can lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. Most patients are prescribed Onglyza orally, in conjunction with changes to diet and exercise to maintain healthy insulin levels. But the drug can have adverse effects in some patients, especially those with a history of kidney or heart trouble.

FDA warnings on Onglyza already listed serious side effects, such as “[i]nflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) which may be severe and lead to death,” and advised users to notify their doctors if they had any history of kidney problems or pancreatitis. Now they’ve added warnings about heart failure. The FDA’s recent research showed that patients taking Onglyza were more likely to be hospitalized for heart failure than those who received only a placebo, and those with a history of heart disease were most at risk.

Legal Help

Onglyza is made by AstraZeneca, and drug manufacturers can be held liable for the side effects and known risks of their products. Under product liability laws, companies generally have a duty to design safe consumer products or to adequately warn consumers about potentially unsafe products.

If you experienced adverse cardiovascular effects after using Onglyza to treat your type 2 diabetes, you may have legal options. Suffering from heart failure can be terrifying, but an experienced product liability attorney can protect your rights and could help you get compensation for your medical bills.

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