Januvia is a once-a-day prescription medication used to lower blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. While there are many medications for people with diabeties, some, like Januvia may cause serious side effects.
Like most prescriptions, Januvia’s side effects can be mild and inconvenient for patients, such as nausea, headache, sore throat, and more. However, recent medical studies have found that patients taking Januvia have experienced much more severe and possibly life-threatening side effects that are not associated with other diabetes medications.
Dangerous Januvia Side Effects
The most serious Januvia side effects include thyroid cancer, pancreatic cancer, or pancreatitis, which is dangerous swelling and inflammation in a person’s pancreas, and can be a precursor to pancreatic cancer. All of these conditions require immediate and often extensive medical treatment.
Pancreatic cancer patients usually receive a very poor prognosis. This type of cancer is the fourth-leading cause of cancer-related fatalities in America. While the prognosis for thyroid cancer may be better, treatment for this type of cancer can still include surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy. Severe pancreatitis may cause organ failure or pancreatic necrosis, which is a serious infection that causes parts of the pancreas to die. This condition often requires long hospital stays and even admission to the intensive care unit (ICU).
Other less severe though still serious Januvia side effects that have been reported include the following:
- Hives, rash, itchy skin;
- Blistering, swelling, or redness of the skin;
- Difficulty swallowing or breathing due to a swollen throat;
- Swelling of the tongue, lips, mouth, or other parts of the face;
- Persistent fever and/or chills; and
- Other serious allergic reactions.
Patients who have been diagnosed with pancreatic or thyroid cancer while taking Januvia have filed lawsuits against Merck, the manufacturer of Januvia. The lawsuits allege, among other things, that Merck provided inadequate and improper warnings about the serious and potentially fatal Januvia side effects.
Contact an Experienced Januvia Attorney for Help
If you were diagnosed with pancreatic or thyroid cancer while taking Januvia, you could be entitled to substantial compensation. The experienced product liability lawyers at Lopez McHugh LLP are dedicated to helping people who have been injured by Januvia and other dangerous drugs to receive the settlements they deserve. Call today, toll free, at (877) 737-8525 to schedule a free consultation.
