Dangerous Diabetes Drugs: Januvia
Merck to Stop Distributing Diabetes and Cholesterol Combination Medication
Merck, manufacturer of the controversial diabetes drug Januvia, has made the decision to stop manufacturing a combination of Januvia (sitagliptin) and the high cholesterol treatment simvastatin. The drug was called Juvisync, and the theory behind it was that the company could increase profits by capitalizing on the large population of individuals that suffer from high…
Onglyza Linked to Increased Risk of Heart Failure
Onglyza, a DPP-4 inhibitors, was the subject of a new study conducted by researchers at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. The study concluded with the following findings: Onglyza resulted in an increased risk of heart failure. Those taking the diabetes medication had a 3.5% increased risk, versus 2.8% in the control group. There…
Incretin Mimetic Drug Lawsuits Consolidated in Federal Court
On August 28, 2013, it was announced that litigation involving incretin mimetic drugs Byetta, Victoza, Januvia, and Janumet are being consolidated into multi-district litigation in California federal court. Usually lawsuits against different companies, as is in this case, are not consolidated into one MDL. In this case however, many of the plaintiffs bringing the lawsuits…
Medical Journal Links Byetta, Januvia to Pancreatitis, Pancreatic Cancer, and Thyroid Cancer
After reviewing the data from the adverse events reported to the FDA, researchers found that there was a six-fold increase in association between pancreatitis and Byetta and Januvia. These results were published in the medical journal Gastroenterology. The scientists found other associations as well, including a threefold increase in pancreatic cancer, and a four-fold increase…
FDA Recommendations Regarding Januvia
In September of 2009, the FDA revised Januvia’s label to reflect the number of reported cases of pancreatitis. The FDA recommended that doctors carefully monitor their patients for symptoms of the disease after starting a patient on the drug, or after increasing dosage. They also caution that there has been no research done on…
Januvia and Pancreatic Cancer
Januvia is a medication used to lower blood sugar levels in patients with Type 2 Diabetes. It is intended to be used along with diet and exercise. The control of high blood sugar is important to prevent kidney damage, blindness, nerve damage, loss of limbs, and sexual function problems. Januvia works by increasing levels…
