The FDA's Fournier's Gangrene Warning is Shocking Diabetes Patients

Diabetes Drug Infection Lawsuit News

As is the case with many highly toxic drugs, the side effects are often more deadly than the disease itself

Wednesday, December 12, 2018 - Drugs that fight deadly diseases such as cancer and diabetes are becoming progressively more effective but also more toxic. The side effects of some anti-cancer or anti-diabetes drugs can be worse than the disease itself. Some drugs can cause sudden death, heart disease, and genital gangrene where the only form of treatment is amputation.

When it comes to rare yet deadly diseases the odds simply do not matter if the disease happens to you. Due to uncovering 12 cases and possibly more, out of millions of potential victims of the deadly disease, the US FDA has recently updated their warning label guidance for a class of drugs that can cause one of the scariest diseases known to mankind. Fournier's Gangrene is a form of necrotizing facietis, better known as a severe infection, where bacteria are allowed to enter the body through a break in the skin. Fournier's Gangrene is a genital infection that results in the genitals blackening from tissue death. If left untreated, the only option is surgical genital amputation. What could be scarier than that? What makes this disease even more frightening is that the condition can happen to anyone that is taking certain popular drugs to treat type 2 diabetes according to the US FDA. Fournier's gangrene can result in death, an outcome just slightly worse than genital amputation.

Fournier's Gangrene effects those taking anti-diabetes drugs classified as sodium-glucose transporters, SGLT2's for short. The disease if a form of necrosis that causes tissue death in and around the genital area resulting in disfigurement. The FDA has reported that after multiple surgeries, one person has died from Fournier's Gangrene. Each of the patients that the agency identified as having the condition required surgery that resulted in amputation and permanent genital disfigurement. All 12 were taking a form of SGLT2 inhibitor.

If you currently are suffering from diabetes and taking medication it is imperative that you first identify the drug by name and brand to see if it is on the list of those required to update their gangrene warning. According to www.medicinenet.com, "Brand and generic names of SGLT2 inhibitors and combination products that contain SGLT2 inhibitors include canagliflozin (Invokana), dapagliflozin (Farxiga), empagliflozin (Jardiance), empagliflozin/linagliptin (Glyxambi), empagliflozin/metformin (Synjardy), and dapagliflozin/metformin (Xigduo XR)."

If you are taking any of the drugs listed above it is critical that you monitor yourself starting immediately for the symptoms of Fournier's and to see a doctor immediately if you see the symptoms. Symptoms of Fournier's Gangere include soreness, tenderness, redness, and swelling of the genital area or flu-like aches and pains accompanied by a high fever. Do not stop taking your prescribed diabetes medication unless instructed to do so by your physician who will monitor your blood sugar levels. If you are found to be suffering from Fournier's Gangrene you will most likely be admitted to the hospital and treated with antibiotics any surgery that may be required.

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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.