Actos Bladder Cancer

Actos, a drug commonly prescribed to help treat Type 2 diabetes, has recently been linked to the development of bladder cancer. Actos, which belongs to the same class of drugs as Avandia (Rosiglitazone), was approved in July 1999 by the FDA to control blood sugar in adults with Type 2 diabetes

If you or someone you love has taken Actos and developed bladder cancer as a result, there are steps you may be able to take to hold the pharmaceutical company accountable. The attorneys of Simon Greenstone Panatier understand your concerns and are prepared to help you fight for your rights. Contact our offices at 1-866-734-5291 for more information.

What is Actos?

Actos is a medication produced by the pharmaceutical company Takeda designed to treat Type 2 diabetes. Actos (pioglitazone) was previously the best-selling Type 2 diabetes drug in the world but has since come under scrutiny following several scientific studies which revealed that patients on Actos have a far higher rate of bladder cancer than patients on other diabetic glucose control medications.

Actos Bladder Cancer

On September 17, 2010, the FDA issued a Drug Safety Community noting that, five years into a ten-year study of any association between Actos and bladder cancer, a link had been found for patients who took Actos for more than 24 months, with a higher dose of Actos increasing the risk of bladder cancer even further.

In April of 2011, the American Diabetes Association published a study using adverse events reports made to the FDA between 2004 and 2009. The study concluded that data was “consistent with an association between pioglitazone and bladder cancer.”

Both France and Germany have suspended the use of Actos, citing concerns over the increased risk of Actos patients developing bladder cancer.

On June 15, 2011, the FDA issued an updated warning that even just one year of pioglitazone use raises the risk of bladder cancer by more than 40%, or an extra 28 cases a year for every 100,000 people taking it. The FDA also recommended doctors not prescribe Actos for patients who have or have had bladder cancer.

Symptoms of Actos Bladder Cancer

The FDA also advised users to be on alert for signs which may indicate bladder cancer, such as:

Blood in urine
Back or lower abdominal pain
Urgent need to urinate
Pain during urination

If you have taken Actos for your Type 2 diabetes and are having any of these symptoms of bladder cancer, you should contact your physician immediately.

Contact a Lawyer

If you or someone you love has used Actos in the past and is now dealing with the physical, emotional, and psychological damage caused by bladder cancer, the attorneys of Simon Greenstone Panatier are prepared to help you. Contact us at 866-734-5291 to discuss your case with a compassionate and knowledgeable lawyer.

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