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Januvia® (sitagliptin) is an enzyme-inhibiting drug, used in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. Manufactured by Merck & Co., Januvia® has been on the market in the US since 2006. Janumet®, also manufactured by Merck & Co., is a combination of sitagliptin and metformin that became available April 2, 2007.  Both drugs are once-a-day prescription pills and are thought to have fewer side-effects than other diabetic drugs (hypoglycemia and weight gain in particular). Januvia® and Janumet® help to control blood glucose levels by inhibiting the degradation of hormones essential to glycemic control. "Merck & Co. may control more than half of a $6 billion U.S. market for a new type of diabetes drug even after rivals start selling similar versions." - Article from Bloomberg.com, on the subject of Januvia®. By 2030, the number of diabetics worldwide is expected to more than double, to around 366 million people. The FDA Safety Alert An FDA safety alert for Januvia® and Janumet® was issued in September 2009. The concern is recent significant evidence that the use of Januvia® or Janumet® could lead to the development of acute pancreatitis. Between October 2006 and February 2009, eighty-eight cases of acute pancreatitis were reported to the FDA in patients using Januvia® or Janumet®. This included two cases of hemorrhagic or necrotizing pancreatitis. Nineteen of these eighty-eight cases occurred within 30 days of starting Januvia® or Janumet®, and 47 of the 88 cases healed once Januvia® or Janumet® was discontinued. The FDA says it is important to note that 45 cases were associated with at least one other risk factor for developing pancreatitis, such as obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol or high triglycerides.
Acute Pancreatitis, Januvia®, and Janumet® The definition of Pancreatitis is ‘inflammation of the pancreas’. Acute pancreatitis is sudden in onset and can have severe complications and high mortality, even with hospitalization and aggressive treatment. The hallmark symptom of acute pancreatitis is acute abdominal pain that may or may not radiate to the back, and may or may not include vomiting. "Because acute pancreatitis is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality, and early recognition is important in reducing adverse health outcomes, FDA is recommending revisions to the prescribing information to alert healthcare professionals to this potentially serious adverse drug event." – FDA, Information for Healthcare Professionals Acute pancreatitis can also cause hemorrhagic pancreatitis (internal bleeding) or necrotizing pancreatitis (tissue death). Side-Effects of Januvia® and Janumet® Severe and even fatal responses to Januvia® and Janumet® have been reported, such as: - Death
- Acute Pancreatitis
- Necrotizing Pancreatitis
- Hemorrhagic Pancreatitis
- Cutaneous Vasculitis
If you or a loved one have been prescribed Januvia or Janumet and have experienced any of these side-effects, please contact us immediately for a free consultation. See your family doctor before stopping any medications, including Januvia® or Janumet®. If You Have Been Injured by Januvia® or Janumet® Have you or a loved one been injured after taking Januvia® or Janumet®? For a free evaluation of your potential claim, call 1-888-446-8087, or fill out an intake form on this website by clicking on "Can We Help You?" on the upper right hand corner of the home page. We at DrugRxRecall.com and The Mulligan Law Firm would like to help you with your potential claim.
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