April 26, 2016 — A woman who was diagnosed with ketoacidosis after taking the diabetes drug Invokana has filed a lawsuit accusing drug-makers of concealing their knowledge about the risk.
The lawsuit (PDF) was filed on November 13, 2015 in federal court in the U.S. District Court for New Jersey. The defendants include Janssen Pharmaceuticals, its parent company Johnson & Johnson, and Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Co. (Case No. 3:15-cv-08070).
The lead plaintiff is Maria Puente, a woman from Texas who was diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) after using Invokana in October and November 2013. Her husband is claiming loss of consortium.
They accuse drug-makers of negligence for failing to warn about ketoacidosis, inadequately studying safety risks, and continue to sell Invokana despite severe side effects. According to the complaint:
“Defendants… recklessly and carelessly marketed, distributed and sold Invokana without adequate instructions or warning of its serious side effects and unreasonably dangerous risks.”
Maria Puente says she would have considered other diabetes treatments had she been warned about the risk of ketoacidosis. She says many other people have been permanently injured by ketoacidosis, stroke, heart attack, and kidney damage.
She and her husband are seeking compensation for her pain and suffering, past and future medical expenses, permanent injuries, decreased quality of life, and increased risk of health problems due to her condition.
The FDA issued a Safety Communication to warn about the risk of ketoacidosis in December 2015. The agency asked patients to stop taking Invokana and seek emergency medical attention for symptoms like nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, tiredness, and trouble breathing. Without prompt diagnosis and treatment, ketoacidosis can cause coma or death. Relatively normal blood-sugar levels may delay diagnosis, according to the FDA.
Do I have an Invokana Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Invokana induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with ketoacidosis, 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 toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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