FDA Botches Diabetes Medication Warning
By
Natalie Moore
Posted July 1, 2016
- Two FDA-approved diabetes medications cause kidney problems
- Are you experiencing symptoms of an adverse drug reaction? Find out…
- Discover how to get urgent medication information sent directly to your inbox.
Dear Living Well Daily Reader,
If you take diabetes medication, you could be facing a new threat.
Well, not exactly a new threat…
You see, two FDA-approved drugs are now proving to cause kidney issues.
And while these drugs were approved — likely all too quickly — in 2013, the cases of kidney disease in patients taking these meds are starting to pile up.
In fact, between 2013 and 2015, there were 101 cases of acute kidney injury linked to taking these meds. Even worse, the FDA warns that it’s entirely possible many more cases have gone unreported.
Double Trouble for Diabetics
Canagliflozin (Invokana, Invokamet) and dapagliflozin (Farxiga, Xigduo XR) are prescribed, along with diet and exercise, to help lower blood sugar in adults with Type 2 diabetes.
Both drugs use the kidneys to remove sugar from the body through urine. This could be one reason why kidney damage is on the rise amongst their users.
The FDA recommends that health care professionals assess kidney function and consider factors like chronic kidney problems, congestive heart failure, and decreased blood volume prior to prescribing this medications.
In addition, anyone taking diuretics, blood pressure medications called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) is at higher risk for an adverse reaction.
If you have any of the above medical issues or are taking any of the listed medications with canagliflozin or dapagliflozin, you should contact your doctor immediately.
Signs of acute kidney injury include decreased urination and swelling in the legs. IF you start experiencing these symptoms you need to get emergency medical treatment STAT.
If you’re taking canagliflozin or dapagliflozin, you may want to contact your doctor to see if there is a safer option.
One Way to Dodge the Danger
While this warning is a little late for the 101 people who experienced unnecessary kidney trauma, it’s not too late for you to take control of your health…
Since the FDA often does a bad job of safely approving drugs, like they did with these two, it’s up to you to protect yourself from their dangerous blunders.
You can’t keep the FDA from hastily approving dangerous drugs or making poor health suggestions, but you can stay on top of the latest, warnings, recalls, and approvals.
One way to do this is through FDA alert emails.
To learn how to sign up for FDA drug alerts, click here.
Live well,
Natalie Moore
Managing editor, Living Well Daily
Written By Natalie Moore
Natalie Moore is a dedicated health researcher with a passion for finding healthy, natural, and science-based solutions. After a decade of direct healthcare experience in western and natural medicine, she was involved in public health research before joining Living Well Daily.
View More Free Articles
"Sinful Trio" SLASHES Metabolic Syndrome Risk
Are you tired of hearing your doctor’s endless “don’t eat this, don’t drink that” lectures? Well, this Easter Sunday, I’ve got news that might just have you hopping happily to your pantry. Turns out, some of life’s tastiest pleasures could help protect you from one of today’s most common health threats—metabolic syndrome. Let’s dig into...
Microplastics’ Hidden Link to Chronic Disease EXPOSED
By now, you’ve heard about microplastics. These tiny fragments of plastic have invaded virtually every corner of our planet. We’re just beginning to understand the scope of the threat, but we know microplastics pose a serious risk to our health. If you’re like many folks, you’ve shrugged off those dangers, thinking there’s nothing you can...
Shakespeare’s “Remembrance” Herb Protects Memory
You probably have a jar of rosemary sitting in your spice rack. Perhaps you sprinkle it on potatoes or add it to roast chicken. But what if this humble herb could hold the key to fighting one of the most devastating diseases we can face as we age? It turns out a hidden compound inside...
Is Your Gut “Good”? How to Check
I always get asked, “How do I know if my digestion is working right?” Well, the answer is pretty simple, but it’s also a little gross. A simple test you can do at home reveals whether your digestion is normal or not. Your digestive system processes everything you eat—extracting nutrients, and eliminating waste. The time...
Hidden Sugar Trap Fuels Lung Cancer
We’ve long known that smoking is the main villain behind lung cancer. But what if your dinner plate has quietly joined forces with the enemy? A new study from the University of Florida reveals that the typical Western diet could be laying the groundwork for aggressive lung cancer growth by feeding tumors with stored sugar....
Mailbag: Can A Diabetic Enjoy Desserts? The Surprising Answer
“If you have diabetes, may you eat a very few sweets in a week?” —Sweet Tooth Hi Sweet Tooth, Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition where your body either resists the effects of insulin (a hormone that regulates sugar in your blood) or doesn’t produce enough of it to maintain normal blood sugar levels....
Sleepless Nights? Beware of this Deadly Danger
We all have that friend who brags about their four-hour-a-night sleep schedule like it’s some kind of superpower. “I’ll sleep when I’m dead,” they proclaim while chugging their third energy drink of the morning. Well, science has bad news for these sleep-skimping show-offs. You might be accelerating your appointment with the Grim Reaper far more...
Drive-Thru Disaster Hits Fast Forward on Aging
Ever wonder why some of your high school classmates look like they’re aging much faster while others seem frozen in time? It’s not always just good genes or expensive creams—it could be what they’re ordering at the drive-thru. A troubling new study revealed that a fast-food habit doesn’t just expand your waistline—it fast-forwards your biological...
The “Salty” Truth About Your Mood
You know salt gets a bad rap for raising blood pressure. But what if I told you it might be messing with your mood, too? According to a new study out of China, eating too much salt could trigger depression—not just through vague “bad diet” effects, but by activating specific immune cells in the brain....
Ancient Herb Has a Modern Secret for Youthful Skin
You can spend hundreds—maybe even thousands—on anti-aging creams, lotions, and potions that promise to turn back the clock. But let’s be honest… most of them do little more than moisturize and smell nice. Now, a new study is turning that entire anti-aging skincare industry on its head—and the secret comes from an herb that’s been...