It is unknown if Janumet causes pancreatitis, but the FDA has updated the safety information on Janumet because it may be a risk factor.
Do I Have a Texas Janumet Lawsuit? Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged. If you or a loved one was injured by severe Janumet side effects, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a Janumet lawsuit in Texas.
UPDATE: Janumet Linked to Doubled Risk of Pancreatitis
February 25, 2013 — A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine has linked sitagliptin (an ingredient in Janumet) to a doubled risk of acute pancreatitis. Click here to read more.
Does Janumet Cause Pancreatitis?
It is unknown if Janumet causes pancreatitis. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published a Safety Communication to warn that sitagliptin, one of two diabetes drugs in Janumet, has been linked to 88 cases of acute pancreatitis, including hemorrhagic and necrotizing pancreatitis. Of these reports, 49% of individuals had no other risk factors for pancreatitis. There is no way to know for sure whether Janumet caused pancreatitis in these cases. Even so, the side effect information on Janumet has been updated to include warnings about pancreatitis.
Incomplete Studies of Janumet Pancreatitis
It would be easier to determine whether Janumet causes pancreatitis if adequate studies were conducted. In fact, after the FDA warned about the potential risk of Janumet pancreatitis in 2009, they required Merck to conduct a 3-month safety study of Janumet pancreatitis in rodents. The study was supposed to be complete by March 15, 2011, with the final report submitted by June 15, 2011.
By 2012, Merck still had not completed the study. In February 2012, the FDA sent Merck a Warning Letter to warn that they were in violation of federal law for failing to conduct the study.
What Causes Pancreatitis?
It is difficult to study whether Janumet causes pancreatitis because type-2 diabetes is a major risk factor for developing the disease. When a Janumet patient develops pancreatitis, it is difficult to say whether the side effect was caused by Janumet, diabetes, or another risk factor.
The following is a list of potential risk factors for developing pancreatitis:
- Medications
- Diabetes
- Gallstones
- Alcoholism
- Obesity
- Abdominal injury or surgery
- Family history of pancreatitis
- Smoking cigarettes
- Cystic fibrosis
- Abnormal blood chemistry (high calcium, high triglyceride, high parathyroid hormone)
- Viral infections (mumps, etc.)
- Pancreatic cancer
- And more
Do I have a Janumet Lawsuit in Texas?
Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.
Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”
The Clark Firm has assembled a team of trial lawyers with more than 100 years experience, participation in over 600 jury trials and $60 million in verdicts and/or settlements. Please use the form below to contact us for a free Texas Janumet lawsuit review.