Acute pancreatitis in the use of canagliflozin: A rare side-effect of the novel therapy for type 2 diabetes mellitus

Canagliflozin (Invokana) is an innovative treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) approved in a new class acknowledged as sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors. Acute pancreatitis is a very rare side effect with an incidence <1%. a 50-year-old white male with DM type 2 presented to the emergency department with acute onset of abdominal pain after 4 days treatment with canagliflozin. He was successfully diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosis induced by acute pancreatitis. Canagliflozin was discontinued. His diabetic ketoacidosis was improved after aggressive intravenous fluid along with intravenous insulin infusion. Our case demonstrates very rare but serious side effect, acute pancreatitis in the use of canagliflozin. As the utility of canagliflozin expands, physicians must be aware of this potentially fatal adverse effect. More specific details on potential candidates for this novel therapy are urgently needed.