Diabetic Drug Warnings Admit to Causing Narcotizing Fasciitis Not Fournier's Gangrene Specifically

Diabetes Drug Infection Lawsuit News

Fournier's Gangrene is a genital flesh-eating form of necrotizing fasciitis

Monday, February 11, 2019 - Fournier's Gangrene may be one of if not the scariest diseases in the world as the treatment often requires the amputation of the male genitalia. Upwards of 70% of all Fournier's Gangrene patients die and those that live are faced with three months of hospitalization including a series of debridements of dead flesh in the hope of stopping this fast-spreading disease. Fournier's Gangrene survivors continue to be faced with scourage of diabetes and fear their condition could limit their ability to tolerate the diabetes drugs they need. Finally, Fournier's Gangrene survivors will have to be hooked up to a catheter and a colostomy bag for the rest of their life. If you or a loved one has contracted Fournier's Gangrene you may qualify to file a claim against the drug's manufacturer for failing to warn of the potential to develop the genital flesh-eating disease.

Fournier's Gangrene is a form of necrotizing fasciitis that affects the genital area of diabetic patients taking certain drugs called SGLT2 blockers. If you are taking any of the following diabetes medications, please consult your physician immediately. Canagliflozin (Invokana, Invokamet, Invokamet XR), Dapagliflozin (Farxiga, Xigduo XR, Qtern), Empagliflozin (Jardiance, Glyxambi, Synjardy, Synjardy XR), and Ertugliflozin (Steglatro, Segluromet, Steglujan). The company websites for the drugs linked by the FDA as causing Fournier Gangrene have not addressed Fournier's specifically, but carry a standard warning for causing necrotising fasciitis: "Reports of necrotizing fasciitis of the perineum (Fournier's gangrene), a rare but serious and life-threatening necrotizing infection requiring urgent surgical intervention, have been identified in postmarketing surveillance in patients with diabetes mellitus receiving SGLT2 inhibitors. Cases have been reported in both females and males. Serious outcomes have included hospitalization, multiple surgeries, and death." Drugs that are used to fight cancer can cause sudden death and heart disease, and anti-diabetes medication is known to cause Fournier's gangrene where the only form of treatment is amputation.

The reason for the heightened concern among diabetic patients worried about contracting this heinous flesh-eating disease is due to the 12 cases of Fournier's Gangrene identified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from 2013 to 2018 in both men and women over 38 years old. These patients all developed Fournier's Gangrene within two years from the start of taking SGLT2 inhibitor drugs.

If you are currently on one of the Fournier's Gangrene drugs above, do not discontinue taking your diabetes medication. In all likelihood, even if you are taking one of the anti-diabetic medications listed above, you will not contract Fournier's Gangrene and should continue to take your diabetes medication unless your doctors instruct you otherwise. You should, however, be aware of the earliest warning signs that you may have the disease. According to medicinenet.com, "The early stage of necrotizing fasciitis is characterized by symptoms of redness, swelling, and pain in the affected area. Blisters may be seen in the involved area of skin. Fever, nausea, vomiting, and other flu-like symptoms are common." (1) Other signs that of necrotizing fasciitis is in its more advanced stages include ulcers, blisters, black spots or changes in the color of the skin, fatigue, diarrhea, and nausea.

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Lawyers for Fournier's Gangrene

OnderLaw, LLC is a St. Louis personal injury law firm handling serious injury and death claims across the country. Its mission is the pursuit of justice, no matter how complex the case or strenuous the effort. The Onder Law Firm has represented clients throughout the United States in pharmaceutical and medical device litigation such as Pradaxa, Lexapro and Yasmin/Yaz, where the firm's attorneys held significant leadership roles in the litigation, as well as Actos, DePuy, Risperdal and others. The Onder Law Firm has won more than $300 million in four talcum powder ovarian cancer lawsuits in St. Louis. Law firms throughout the nation often seek its experience and expertise on complex litigation.