Kazano belongs to a new class of diabetes drugs that have been linked to several life-threatening side effects, including severe inflammation (pancreatitis) and pancreatic cancer.
Need a Texas Kazano Lawyer? 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 diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit.
Overview
Kazano contains a combination of alogliptin and metformin. It belongs to a class of diabetes drugs called “incretin mimetics.” These drugs help control blood-sugar levels by forcing the pancreas to make more insulin.
Kazano and Pancreatitis
People with diabetes are already at risk of pancreatic side effects. Long-term treatment with a medication that overstimulates the pancreas could potentially result in inflammation (pancreatitis). The first incretin mimetic on the market, Byetta (exenatide), has already prompted warnings from the FDA about pancreatitis — including life-threatening hemorrhagic and necrotizing pancreatitis.
Kazano and Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatitis is also a major risk-factor for pancreatic cancer. In 2010, a study published in Gastroenterology found higher rates of pancreatic cancer among patients on incretin mimetics.
In 2013, the FDA issued a Safety Communication about pancreatic side effects of Kazano. The agency cited one study linking incretin mimetics with a doubled increased risk of pancreatitis. In another study, researchers found pre-cancerous growths in several pancreases of patients who used diabetes medications in the incretin mimetic class.
What is Pancreatic Cancer?
Pancreatic cancer occurs when cells grow uncontrollably inside the pancreas. The pancreas is a digestive organ located below the stomach. It makes insulin and enzymes that break down food.
Risk-Factors
People with diabetes are more likely to develop pancreatic cancer, but no one knows why. Other risk-factors include chronic pancreatitis, smoking cigarettes, obesity, and a health history or inherited risk of pancreas problems.
Symptoms
Pancreatic cancer does not cause symptoms in its early stages. When symptoms do appear, they are usually vague and non-specific (such as loss of appetite), or easily blamed on other medical problems with similar symptoms. The most common early symptoms are abdominal pain and weight-loss.
Pancreatic cancer symptoms may include:
- Upper abdominal pain or discomfort
- Diarrhea and indigestion (especially after eating fatty food)
- Loss of appetite
- Weight-loss
- Nausea, vomiting
- Feeling tired or weak
- Jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes)
- Dark-colored urine, clay-colored stools
Diagnosis & Treatment
Pancreatic cancer is hard to diagnose. The pancreas is located deep inside the abdomen and the only way to conclusively diagnose cancer is with a tissue specimin (biopsy). Only about 20% of patients are diagnosed early enough to remove the cancer surgically. In most cases, patients undergo chemotherapy (“chemo”) or radiation therapy to kill cancer cells using a combination of medications and high-energy x-rays.
Need a Kazano Lawyer 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 $260 million in verdicts and/or settlements. Please use the form below to contact our Texas Kazano lawyers for a free lawsuit review.
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