888-800-2455

Call Toll Free Anytime!

Actos Defective Drug Lawyers in South Carolina

Actos, or pioglitazone, is a medication commonly prescribed to help control blood sugar levels in adults with Type II diabetes. It is also used as a preventative diabetic medication for patients who show early symptoms of the disease. First approved in 1999, Actos is one of Takeda’s best-selling drugs, bringing in billions of dollars in sales for the drug manufacturer every year.

In June 2011, the FDA issued a safety warning linking Actos to an increased risk of bladder cancer, more specifically when used for over a year. The warning stems from preliminary results of a 10-year observational study conducted in September 2010, showing that the risk of bladder cancer increases as the duration and dose of Actos use increases. Patients using Actos for longer than one year were found to have a 40 percent elevated risk of bladder cancer. Although men are at greatest risk for the disease, female Actos users are five times more likely to suffer from bladder cancer than those not taking the drug.

Unlike European regulators who suspended the sale and use of Actos, and French and German authorities banning the use of the drug, U.S. regulators have not yet pulled Actos from store shelves. However, new information will be added to the drug’s labels to alert patients of the increased bladder cancer risk. Lawmakers and medical experts are urging the FDA to pull the drug, and that a simple black box warning is not adequate enough.

Signs and Symptoms of Actos Bladder Cancer:

  • Blood in the urine
  • Inability to urinate
  • Frequent and/or painful urination
  • Urinary tract infection

Other Actos side effects can include:

  • Congestive heart failure
  • Heart disease
  • Liver problems
  • Kidney cancer
  • Bone fracture

Contact an Experienced Actos Attorney

The attorneys at The Green Law Firm LLC have a great deal of knowledge about Actos drug litigation. If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with bladder cancer or experienced any of these dangerous side effects while taking Actos, contact our office immediately for a free, confidential consultation. Our Actos lawyers will be able to explain your legal rights, and may be able to help you seek compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering.

Visit this link to learn more about the warnings, precautions, and indications associated with Actos on the FDA’s website