Actos attorneys aggressively advocate the rights of type-2 diabetics injured as a result of taking this thiazolidinedione medication. An Actos attorney can help win compensation for medical bills, lost wages, permanent disabilities, diminished quality of life, pain, and suffering.
Approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1999, Actos improves an individual’s sensitivity to insulin in order to enhance control over blood sugar levels. Actos is generically known as pioglitazone and is produced by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company. Unfortunately, post-marketing studies have indicated several serious Actos side effects that may affect patients.
FDA Warns About Serious Actos Side Effects
Less than a decade after Actos was introduced to the U.S. market, the FDA announced in August 2007 that it was requiring Takeda Pharmaceutical Company to include black box warnings regarding the possibility of developing Actos-induced heart complications. Some of the potentially fatal Actos side effects include: congestive heart failure, heart disease, and heart attack. Other severe, life-threatening side effects that Actos has been reported to cause include:
- bladder cancer
- bone fractures in the hands, feet, and/or upper arms
- diabetic ketoacidosis (which is a complication of hyperglycemia)
- hyperglycemia (excessively high blood sugar levels that can result in blurry vision, fatigue, and even coma,)
- hypoglycemia (dangerously low blood glucose levels that can result in symptoms similar to those of hyperglycemia)
- liver damage (marked by a yellowing of the whites of the eyes and skin, and abdominal pain)
- severe allergic reaction (characterized by inflammation of the face or tongue, or skin rash)
Those with the highest risk of developing serious Actos side effects include patients who take higher doses of Actos, use the drug for longer periods of time, and have a medical history of:
- blood clots, heart attack, or stroke
- fluid retention
- liver disease
- severe allergic reaction to pioglitazone
Actos Lawyers Fighting for Victims of Actos Bladder Cancer
Since August 2011, Actos attorneys have been receiving numerous calls from victims of Actos bladder cancer. Many were diagnosed with the disease in 2008 or 2009, but were unaware of thr connection to the diabetes drug until June 2011, when the FDA warned of the link between Acto and the disease. Patients taking the drug for longer than a year, or taking particularly high cumulative doses, are reported to experience a 40 percent increased risk of bladder cancer.
The number of Actos lawyers filing lawsuits claiming Actos bladder cancer is expected to continue to increase. Already, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation has been petitioned to consolidate all cases into one court for convenience and efficiency. The panel is expected to meet on the issue in December 2011.
Consulting with an Actos Attorney
Actos lawyers are dedicated to helping injured patients hold Takeda Pharmaceutical Company responsible for failing to research and inform the public of the possible serious Actos side effects associated. Injured Actos patients are strongly encouraged to learn more about their legal rights and entitlements by attending a free initial consultation with an Actos lawyer.
If you or a loved one have used Actos and suffered from any side effect including heart disease, congestive heart failure, severe allergic reaction, liver damage, or diabetic ketoacidosis you should contact us immediately for a free and confidential case review. You may be entitled to compensation and we can help.
