Actos, also known as pioglitazone, is manufactured by Takeda Pharmaceutical and used with a diet and exercise program and sometimes with other medications, to treat Type 2 diabetes. Other names that pioglitazone may be marketed as are Actoplus Met, Actoplus Met XR and Duetact. Actos was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, for Type 2 diabetes treatment, in July 1999.
Type II diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. It affects an estimated 15 million Americans. It most often occurs in people over age 45, but has been diagnosed in children as well. If untreated, Type 2 diabetes can lead to serious health complications including blindness, heart disease, stroke, kidney failure and limb amputation. Diabetes consumes $98 billion in U.S. health care costs annually.
Actos Health Concerns
There have been numerous studies conducted on the link between Actos and bladder cancer. Some studies are still ongoing. Some of the studies include:
- On June 11, 2007 the FDA requested a black box warning label for both Actos and Avandia, another Type 2 diabetes medication, due to the increased risk of heart attacks, congestive heart failure and other cardiovascular injuries associated with both drugs.
- In 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) performed its own safety review of Actos after analyzing a ten year study on the medication. The study identified an increased risk of bladder cancer in Type 2 diabetes patients with the longest exposure to Actos and those exposed to the highest cumulative doses of Actos.
- A 2011 study conducted by the French government, on over 1.4 million Type 2 dibetes patients, determined that patients receiving 28,000mg or more of Actos during the study period were 22 percent more likely to develop bladder cancer. This study prompted both the French governments to ban the sale of Actos and Germany to not recommend Actos treatment in new patients. It also prompted the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to impose more serious warnings regarding potential bladder cancer risks in the European countries where Actos was allowed to remain available.
- On June 16, 2011 the FDA released a Drug Safety Communication regarding their ongoing safety review of Actos (pioglitazone) and increased risk of bladder cancer. In the safety release the FDA informed the public that the use of Type 2 diabetes medication, Actos, for more than a year period may be associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer.
Are You Taking Actos?
If you are currently taking Actos and have concerns about the increased risk of bladder cancer, it is imperative that you speak with your physician. Do not alter your course of treatment or stop taking your medication without first talking to a qualified healthcare provider. Anyone choosing to remain on Actos should be made aware of all of the possible risks and side effects as well as the symptoms of these complications.
Actos Lawsuits
If you have been diagnosed with bladder cancer and are taking or have taken Actos, our Sarasota personal injury trial attorneys may be able to help. Contact a Sarasota personal injury attorney at the law office of Lutz, Bobo & Telfair, P.A. for a no cost case evaluation. All of our fees, in personal injury cases, are contingent upon our clients obtaining financial compensation. This means that we only charge attorney’s fees if we win a case.
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Fifth Floor
Sarasota, FL 34236
(866) 802-8182
(941) 951-1800
(941) 366-1603
(Click Here)