Throughout the development of modern medicine, some drugs have been shown to yield dangerous side effects and cause devastating injuries. Though the triggers for these side effects vary from person to person, the extent of the damages is too severe to ignore, even in isolated cases. Those who have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes have been exposed to various drugs intended to help with maintaining and influence insulin and blood sugar, but some of the results of these drugs have proven dangerous, and at times, fatal. One such drug is Januvia, a diabetes medicine manufactured by Merck; it has been in use for over ten years, but after a few years of widespread usage, a link between the medicine and pancreatic conditions, amidst other troubles, was found. Our lawyers at Normandie Law Firm intend to help all victims who have been harmed by taking the Januvia medication. If you need Januvia drug side effect lawsuit information or intend to sue the manufacturer of Januvia, Merck, contact our Los Angeles, California, law group today.
Diabetes and Januvia
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body does not make enough insulin for its needs or when the cells in the body are not efficient at using that insulin. Insulin helps lower blood sugar levels, and when insulin resistance is developed, blood sugar can greatly increase. There are numerous medications prescribed to help combat these negative effects. Januvia is an oral medication that increases the body’s insulin output while simultaneously decreasing the production of glucose in the liver. These processes usually happen after eating, when new amounts of glucose are introduced to the body.
Januvia is not intended to be used purely by itself to treat diabetes; it is often paired with Byetta or other medications, as well as a healthy diet and moderate exercise. For more information, contact one of our Januvia cancer lawyers.
Issues with the Drug
After some years on the market, studies began to show that Januvia may have negatively impacted users. There were reports that people who took Januvia suffered damage to the pancreas and were more prone to certain illnesses than others. In the wake of such news, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted more studies and found that the drug could lead to various problems, like joint pain and pancreatic trouble. There was not a Januvia recall, however, and Merck continued to distribute the drug-free of any warning labels or hazard notices.
As with all drugs, there are various side effects that can happen when taking them. Januvia’s include:
- Elevated liver enzymes
- Swelling of hands or legs
- Headache
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Upper respiratory infection
- Stuffy or runny nose
- Weight gain
- Sore throat
- Back pain
The more problematic effects that can occur include:
- Pancreatitis (characterized by swelling of the pancreas, resulting in vomiting, increased heart rate, sickness, and abdominal pain)
- Allergic reactions (hives and other epidermal breakouts, shortness of breath, facial or throat swelling)
- Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
- Necrotizing pancreatitis (wherein the tissue in the pancreas dies and rots, leading to an infection)
- Hemorrhagic Pancreatitis (characterized by a bleeding pancreas)
- Pancreatic Cancer (revealed to be 2.7 times as likely in those who took Januvia)
- Thyroid Cancer
- Kidney Failure
Diabetics need to be extremely careful of their diets and intake. Certain drugs can complicate their conditions, even if they temporarily help. With the help of a lawyer who is experienced in Januvia side effect lawsuits, you can receive the compensation you deserve if you are hurt from taking the medication.
Legal Information
If you wish to hire a lawyer to sue the makers of Januvia for your injuries, you should be aware of the kind of legal action you can take. A main mistake many individuals make in dangerous drug lawsuits is targeting the wrong party. They often believe that since a doctor prescribed the medication, the doctor should also be the target of the lawsuit. Doctors prescribe Januvia and similar drugs all the time, and many times, patients do not suffer such extreme effects. The risks associated with the drug can only be attributed to the pharmaceutical company; in this case, Merck would be the target of the claim. You would file a product liability against the company.
Product liability claims are generally predicated on three possible factors: a design flaw, a manufacturing error, or a failure to warn. Merck likely violated all three. Those who designed the drug should have been aware of the possibly adverse effects it could have on the pancreas and rest of the body, but they did not alter their paths. The choice to manufacture it and continue to manufacture it in the wake of the side effects it causes contributes to the second cause. The drug also does not contain any warning on its label or did not for a long period of time.
If you need an attorney to sue Januvia drug manufacturer for failure to warn, contact our law group today.
Deadline to File a Claim
Dangerous drug lawsuits are product liability claims, which means you have two years from the date of the injury to take legal action or risk missing out on the chance at compensation altogether. Although the effects of Januvia may be long-lasting or even permanent, you should still take action as quickly as possible to give yourself the best chance at winning the case. Statutes of limitations are in place to ensure that claims are dealt with in a timely manner and to keep evidence and witness recollections intact.
If you choose to join a class action lawsuit, however, you may be able to avoid the statute of limitations due to the high number of plaintiffs who may have been damaged at various points in time.
A Januvia product recall attorney may also be able to get your statute of limitations temporarily suspended. If you were a minor at the time of the incident, the statute would not begin until you turned the legal age of eighteen. Further, if you were physically or mentally incapacitated because of injuries, you would not have to adhere to the deadline until you are competent again.
For more information about Januvia recall lawsuit, reach out to a Januvia recall lawsuit attorney.
Compensation from a Januvia Lawsuit
In order for you to receive the maximum compensation for your injuries, you will have to show that your damages are severe. Insurance agents determine the value of your case by examining how impactful the injuries were and the effects they had on your life and career. If you contracted something like thyroid cancer, your career may be over and your life may be in jeopardy, leading to a much larger settlement. On the other hand, if you only began to suffer low blood sugar, you may not receive nearly as much. A Januvia lawsuit attorney will be able to assist you in showing that you deserve fair compensation.
Regardless of the amount, you can still earn different types of restitution. Some of the damages include:
- Coverage of medical expenses from both the past and future
- Reimbursement of lost wages from the past and future
- Any damaged, lost, or broken property
- Emotional trauma or pain and suffering
- Punitive damages
Further, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit if your family member or loved one passed away due to complications from taking Januvia. This lawsuit can secure you coverage for funeral expenses, loss of consortium, loss of expected savings and inheritance, pre-death medical expenses, pre-death pain and suffering damages, and more.
For more assistance, contact a lawyer with experience in Januvia drug side effect cases.
Normandie Law Firm: The Best in Town
If you are in need of a Januvia amputation lawsuit attorney in Los Angeles, California, look no further than Normandie Law Firm. Our team o expert attorneys will do everything we can to bring you the compensation you deserve. We promise to work around the clock to make sure your claim is being swiftly handled and that you are not receiving a low or meager offer. We will aggressively stay on top of your case and make sure the insurance agency is considering your case as fairly as they can. Sometimes, negotiations come to a standstill; if this happens, we are willing to go to court to fight for your rights and secure your legal compensation.
Call our law offices today to receive a free consultation with a Januvia side effect lawsuit attorney. You can learn more about dangerous drug lawsuits and what kind of action you will need to take. We will look over your case with you and tell you what we believe it is worth. Further, all of our consultations are completely confidential, and none of your private details will be shared with anyone else.
If you sign up for our services, you will receive a zero fee guarantee on your claim that promises that you will not have to pay any out of pocket expenses. We will not get paid unless and until we win your case. If we lose, you won’t have to pay us anything whatsoever.
To get started, reach out to a Januvia lawsuit attorney in Los Angeles, California.
