Actos and Related Health Risks

Actos and its ties to bladder cancer & other health risks.

In 2011, the FDA issued a warning regarding a certain drug which is used by many Americans to manage type 2 diabetes. The drug in question, Actos, works by regulating insulin production. In its warning, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found that many people who took Actos continuously ended up with bladder cancer, a particularly aggressive form of cancer.
The report also went on to state that the makers of the drug, Takeda, hid parts of the drug’s studies which pointed to the increased likelihood of developing bladder cancer. At the same time, it was found out that the company distributed material at a trade show which violated the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

Risk of heart failure.

Recently, additionally claims were presented against the drug and Takeda; it was also discovered that Actos had the potential to cause heart failure. A Mayo Clinic Proceeding documented that some people who took the drug developed congestive heart failure whose hallmarks are symptoms such as edema, shortness of breath and weight gain. Many patients taking Actos also developed renal insufficiency which basically means that their kidneys weren’t working as they should.

Risk of bone fractures and osteoporosis.

Actos has also been linked to the increased likelihood of developing bone fractures. While osteoporosis may be a condition which affects many individuals over the age of 50, people who took Actos were 71 percent likelier to develop osteoporosis as well as a loss in bone density.

Millions of Americans have taken Actos given the fact that it’s the leading diabetes drug with more than 100 million prescriptions filed. After the FDA revelation, Takeda agreed to pay $9 billion in punitive damages for its role in hiding Actos’s cancer risk.
Some of the symptoms which may point to bladder cancer due to Actos consumption include:

• Blood or red-colored urine
• Back pain
• Lower abdomen pain
• Constant urge to urinate
• Pain while urinating.

If you've been taking Actos for your diabetes, you may be eligible for compensation.  You can contact your doctor and ask to be taken off the drug and given an alternative. Additionally, you should contact Rasansky Law Firm at (214) 651-6100 for your free consultation regarding what kind of compensation you can expect as well as what your rights are as a patient. Alternatively, you can fill in our email form directly from this page and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.