How do you suppose drug companies celebrate? In the case of the manufacturer of the controversial diabetes drug canagliflozin (aka Invokana), I wouldn’t be surprised if it was balloons, cake, and the whole nine yards. Because the FDA just handed them a HUGE gift.
If the med sounds a bit familiar, that’s because it’s potential side effects were so shocking it made the news. The diabetes drug hit the market with an ominous “black box” warning that alerts users that taking it could literally cost you your toes… your foot… or even part of your leg.
“Some people had more than one amputation, some on both sides of the body,” the label bluntly states.
And if you’re wondering HOW you can sell a med like that, well, let’s just say it’s been tough. So the suits behind Invokana just scored a major marketing coup as the FDA gave the green light to hide the warning.
That could translate into BILLIONS in new sales for this troubled med.
But don’t go looking for it yourself just yet. Because while the label was changed, very real risks remain.
The BLACK BOX of doom explained
Every drug has side effects. But you often have to look for them, as they’re hidden in the fine print.
The BLACK BOX is different. It’s the most serious type of warning, and it’s used for only the most alarming risks. It gets slapped right on the label with a thick black box around it, so it’s almost impossible to miss.
Invokana got the amputation warning in a black box after studies found taking it could DOUBLE your odds of amputation, especially of the toes and middle of the foot. Some folks have reportedly lost an entire foot and even part or all of a leg.
Now, the FDA is removing the black box. But here’s the CONFUSING part. They ADMIT the risk is still there.
Nothing has changed about the Invokana formula. Taking this diabetes drug could still increase your risk of those frightening – and life-changing – amputations.
The feds now claim the amputation risk isn’t quite as bad as they thought. Plus, they say, the benefits are a little better than they thought too. So they’ve decided to give its manufacturer’s a get out of Black Box jail free card.
Simple 2 step Ditch the Diabetes formula
I don’t know about you. But given the FDA’s ugly history with downplaying serious drug risks, I don’t exactly find their change of heart reassuring. And fewer amputations are still far too many in my book.
But if the amputation risk isn’t bad enough for folks to question filling that prescription, the drug also packs a few others.
Risks like weak and thinning bone, especially in the hip or spine. In fact, one study found your chance of fractures jumps after just three months on SGLT2 inhibitors like this one.
Plus, it’s been linked to a gruesome form of gangrene that strikes “the genitals and area around the genitals.” The risk is low but terrifyingly real.
The good news is if you have diabetes, there are a lot of other options out there. Even common metformin works about as well as these frightening new drugs when it comes to blood sugar control.
Of course, ordinary metformin has its own problems – including a recent cancer scare you can catch up on right here. So your best bet will always be to reverse the course of diabetes WITHOUT drugs if you can.
And believe me, it’s entirely possible. Many folks have done it using a simple two-step Ditch the Diabetes formula.
- First, switch to a lower-carb diet and drop all the added sugars and ultra-processed foods. This alone will do wonders for your blood sugar.
- Then make some simple changes to your regular routine that will get your heart pumping without spending hours exercising. For example, marching in place during commercial breaks when you watch TV (click here for some MORE sneaky “exercise” ideas you’ll love).
Make these two moves, and chances are it won’t be long before your doc can cut back on or even eliminate your diabetes meds.
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