The use of Invokana may increase the risk of stroke. The manufacturers’ own studies show Invokana was related to an increase in LDL “bad” cholesterol levels, as well as a small increased risk of stroke and heart attacks in the first 30 days of treatment. If you have suffered from a stroke after taking Invokana, contact an Invokana attorney to help you file a Invokana lawsuit so that you can potentially recover the compensation needed to help you make a full recovery.
In one of the clinical trials used to obtain approval for the drug, 13 patients taking Invokana suffered a major cardiovascular event within the first 30 days, as opposed to just one patient taking a placebo. After that first month, the number of heart problems balanced out.
With respect to the trial cited by the FDA reviewer, the FDA concluded that “any imbalance in results during the first 30 days or the trial” in question “may be attributable to chance or may have been caused by an early increase in the risk of MACE [major adverse cardiovascular events]-plus associated with canagliflozin among subjects with high background cardiovascular risk.” The FDA went on to note that “There was no evidence of an increased risk of MACE-plus associated with canagliflozin after 30 days” in the trial.
According to a report in the New York Times, an FDA spokeswoman said that the “significance of those findings was unclear, and the label of the drug includes no warnings about heart attacks or strokes.” The FDA required the manufacturers to conduct post-marketing studies on Invokana and potential cardiovascular outcomes. So far, however, those studies have not been completed.
Symptoms and Causes of a Stroke
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to your brain is cut off. When this happens, brain cells are deprived of oxygen and nutrients causing them to die.
An easy way to remember and identify symptoms of a stroke is the act FAST:
Face: facial droop
Arms: weakness of the arms
Speech: slurred speech or difficulty speaking
Time: call 911 as soon as possible. The sooner the person gets treatment, the better their prognosis.
Other symptoms of a stroke include:
- Sudden blurred or blackened vision in one or both eyes
- Paralysis or numbness of a leg, arm or the face
- Confusion and trouble with speaking or understanding
- Sudden onset of a headache, vomiting or dizziness
- Sudden loss of balance or coordination
Why do individuals suffer strokes?
A stroke has many causes including leaking or bursting of a blood vessel, temporary disruption of blood flow to their brain, or a blocked artery.
Make sure to seek immediate medical attention if you or a loved one are suffering from a stroke. The sooner you get help, the better your prognosis will be.