Actos

What is Actos?

Actos is a medicine used to treat people with type 2 diabetes manufactured by the Japanese pharmaceutical company Takeda. Actos was first approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1999. Actos belongs to a class of prescription medications known as thiazolidinediones, which work to help control blood sugar by making the body more sensitive to insulin. It belongs to the same class of medicines as Avandia.

Actos can be used in combination with certain other diabetes medicines such as sulfonylureas, metformin or insulin including Actoplus Met (actos/metformin), Actoplus Met XR (actos/metformin extended-release), and Duetact (actos/glimepiride).

There are many side effects associated with the use of Actos such as:

• Headache

• Sinus infection

• Muscle pain

• Sore throat

• Fatigue

• Stomach pain

• Jaundice

• Nausea

In addition, Actos patients may also develop severe side effects such as bladder cancer, congestive heart failure, bone fractures and lactic acidosis.
Actos and Bladder Cancer

A 2010 epidemiological study conducted in France had shown an increased risk of bladder cancer with use of the drug Actos. Based on the results of this study, France has suspended the use of Actos in new patients. Germany has also restricted use of Actos among new diabetes patients. The FDA issued a warning about the drug’s possible cancer risks in 2010 but allowed sales in the US to continue.

The FDA was reviewing data from a different ongoing ten year study of the effects of Actos and bladder cancer. The study showed an increased risk of bladder cancer among the patients that used Actos the longest or had been exposed to the highest dose of Actos. The FDA said patients taking Actos for more than one year may have a 40 percent increased risk for bladder cancer.

In June 2011, the FDA informed the public that “use of the diabetes medicine Actos (pioglitazone) for more than one year may be associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer.”(FDA)

As a result of this determination, a new black box warning was added to the label and patient medication guide for Actos.

The warning notified patients or an increased risk of bladder cancer with the use of Actos, advised against taking Actos if receiving treatment for bladder cancer and to contact a doctor if symptoms of bladder cancer develop.

Actos Severe Side Effects

If you have taken or are taking the diabetes drug Actos, it is important that you be aware of the symptoms of bladder cancer as bladder cancer is a serious and potentially deadly disease. Call your health care provider if you experience any of these symptoms:

•  Blood in your urine

• Urinary urgency

• Painful urination

• Back pain

• Abdominal pain

Actos Lawsuit

There are several thousand claims expected to be filed against the manufacturer of Actos, Takeda Pharmaceuticals. The lawsuits are on behalf of diabetic patients that may have bladder cancer as a result of taking the type 2 diabetes drug Actos.

It has been disclosed that Takeda Pharmaceuticals has had knowledge of the bladder cancer risks and in fact has been conducting their own study as a result for the past several years. Meanwhile, they failed to adequately warn doctors and patients about the connection between Actos and bladder cancer.

A federal judge has already scheduled an initial court hearing for March 2012 and it is advised that if you have been injured by taking Actos that you don’t delay. Contact an experienced Actos attorney at D. Miller & Associates, PLLC now for a free evaluation of your case. If you have developed bladder cancer or experienced a recurrence of bladder cancer while taking Actos fill out the contact form on this page or call us today.

You might not have been aware of the risk of taking Actos and developing bladder cancer, but now you have the right to fight back! Contact the professional Actos team at D. Miller & Associates, PLLC now and lets us work for you. The consultation is free, the call is free, and it is time to take back your control!