No one knows if Januvia causes pancreatitis, but it may increase the risk. In 2009, the FDA issued a warning after receiving 88 reports of pancreatitis. In 2013, the agency also warned about studies linking Januvia to a doubled increased risk of pancreatitis.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Januvia induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Drug Litigation Group or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
Does Januvia Cause Pancreatitis?
No one knows for sure. The risk is hard to study because Januvia is a diabetes medication and diabetes itself is a risk factor for pancreatitis.
However, because Januvia works by stimulating the pancreas to make more insulin, some experts are concerned that it could over-stimulate the pancreas and cause inflammation (pancreatitis).
In September 2009, the FDA published this Safety Communication to warn that Januvia had been linked to 88 reports of pancreatitis, including 2 reports of hemorrhagic and necrotizing pancreatitis.
About half of the victims had no other risk-factors for pancreatitis. Most of the cases were serious and two-thirds of the patients had to be hospitalized. According to the FDA:
“[Januvia] has not been studied in patients with a history of pancreatitis. Therefore, it is not known whether these patients are at an increased risk for developing pancreatitis and the medication should be used with caution and with appropriate monitoring in patients with a history of pancreatitis.”
Acute Pancreatitis
The pancreas produces hormones like insulin, which help lower blood-sugar levels. The pancreas also produces digestive enzymes that break down food. Pancreatitis (pancreas inflammation) occurs when digestive enzymes inside the pancreas activate and begin auto-digesting pancreatic tissue.
Pancreatitis Risk-Factors
- Medications
- Diabetes
- Gallstones
- Alcoholism
- Obesity
- Abdominal injury or surgery
- Family history of pancreatitis
- Smoking cigarettes
- Cystic fibrosis
- Abnormal blood chemistry (high calcium, high triglyceride, high parathyroid hormone)
- Viral infections (mumps, etc)
- Pancreatic cancer
- And more
More Information About Pancreatitis
- What is Pancreatitis?
- What are Symptoms?
- What Causes Pancreatitis?
- What Complications Can Occur?
- How is Pancreatitis Diagnosed?
- How is Pancreatitis Treated?
Do I have a Januvia Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Januvia induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Drug Litigation Group or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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