The labels must have warnings

Just last week, the FDA distributed a letter that explains the agency by adding warnings to the labels of the (SGLT2) inhibitors about the dangers of the drug that causes ketoacidosis and UTI, which might lead to hospitalization. The SGLT2 inhibitors are used to better manage those with type 2 diabetes. In relation to the concerns, the FDA suggests the patients who are taking the SGLT2 inhibitors for signs of ketoacidosis or UTI. Those people must also be taught how to determine the signs of ketoacidosis that may include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pains, tiredness, harder to breathe and others. Moreover, they must also learn how to determine the signs of a UTI like burn sensations whenever they pee or the need to pee often and cannot control the urge. The pain in the lower side of the tummy area or the pelvis and if there is blood in the urine is just some of the signs that you have a UTI.

The doctors suggest watching for signs while taking the SGLT2

If there may be any of the signs mentioned and they persist, you must be told by your doctor to stop taking the SGLT2 inhibitor and be checked right away for immediate medical care. The said inhibitors are approved for use, but with proper diet and exercise to help in lowering the blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. The SGLT2 inhibitor class includes the canagliflozin, dapagliflozin and empagliflozin. However, the FDA warned the manufacturers to make a continuous study about their SGLT2 inhibitor class in the market and now they are issuing a new warning once again on the labels of the drugs. They are now requiring the manufacturers to make an enhancement Pharmacovigilance study and then review the spontaneous postmarketing reports of the ketoacidosis in patients who were treated with the SGLT2 inhibitors   the manufactures must follow the consumers for 5 years to be able to gather all the added information.

The FDA first issued a warning on the heath care professionals along with the patients about the danger of ketoacidosis using the SGLT2 inhibitor in May. There was a review made by the FDA about the Adverse Event Reporting Systems or FAERS database starting in March 2013 – May 2015. There were identified cases of ketoacidosis in patients with type 2 and 2 diabetes who were given the SGLT2 inhibitors. All of the patients need hospitalization or emergent treatment and in a lot of cases, ketoacidosis wasn’t recognized right away because of the blood glucose levels of the patients were below the usual ketoacidosis levels in diabetic patients. Because of this, the treatment was delayed in most of them.