FOR A FREE CASE EVALUATION, CALL 1-800-632-1404

If you took Actos® (pioglitazone) for a year or longer and have been diagnosed with bladder cancer, call the Actos bladder cancer lawyers with our firm at 1-800-632-1404. Our firm is currently reviewing cases involving persons who took Actos® for control of blood sugar.

BACKGROUND

One of the serious side effects of Actos is congestive heart failure. Congestive heart failure is a syndrome characterized by cough, shortness of breath and poor exercise tolerance. Sluggish flow through the lungs leads to fluid accumulation, with a characteristic cough and change in breath sounds heard through a stethoscope. Fluid may accumulate in feet and legs, given a swollen, bloated appearance. Occasionally fluid accumulation can progress to include the torso and body organs. Poor exercise tolerance is an inevitable result of decreased pumping ability of the heart muscle.

Congestive heart failure refers to a condition characterized by the inability of the heart to circulate adequate amounts of blood to the body. As the pump fails, blood backs up into the lungs resulting in shortness of breath. The vital organs are no longer perfused with the necessary amounts of oxygen and other nutrients needed to survive. This leads to multi-system organ failure and death

Treatment

In general, treatment consists of inotropic support where needed, fluid mobilization accomplished by preload reduction, afterload reduction, and relief of ischemia. In terms of drug therapy, this translates into digoxin, diuretics, vasodilators such as hydralazine and nitrates, and ACE inhibitors. In the elderly the effective doses of each are usually lower. The first, digoxin, is given in systolic dysfunction to increase inotropism, or the strength of ventricular contraction. Because of the decrease in renal function that occurs with normal aging, the elderly are at greater risk for digoxin toxicity.

Diuretics

Treatment of congestive heart failure includes fluid elimination by means of diuretics. Diuretics constitute another class of high-risk drugs that should be used with caution in the elderly, in part because of the reduction in total body water with normal aging and other factors. Side effects include hypokalemia possibly linked to sudden death, worsening renal function, left ventricular hypertrophy, and increases in total cholesterol and triglycerides. They may cause a contraction alkalosis. In addition, they may precipitate an exaggerated postural hypotensive response, leading to light‐ headedness, falling, and further morbidity or mortality from a hip or other fracture. Blood pressure and arterial resistance may be altered with a variety of new medications that have yielded outstanding symptom control. In the most serious cases of congestive heart failure, heart transplantation may be necessary.

End stage

Congestive heart failure is the end stage of heart disease. The heart is unable to pump enough blood to supply the vital organs and the body tissues with enough oxygen and nutrients to meet their metabolic demands. It can be the failure of contraction, systolic failure, or the failure of filling, diastolic failure.

BACKGROUND

Since 1999, Actos® has been prescribed as part of an overall treatment regimen for controlling blood sugar in diabetic patients. In recent years it has also been prescribed as a diabetes preventative in those who show the early signs of the disease. In September 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began a safety review of Actos® when new data was discovered that suggested a link to increased risk of bladder cancer.

The risk of bladder cancer is MUCH HIGHER for those that take the drug at higher cumulative doses and for longer periods of time. This increased risk is also greater in men than in women. The FDA has issued a warning of the elevated risk to patients who have been taking Actos®, but added that patients should not stop taking Actos® unless instructed to do so by their physicians. The active ingredient in Actos® is also contained in other drugs, namely Actoplus Met®, Actoplus Met XR®, and Duetact®.

Although Actos® continues to remain on the shelves of drug stores in the United States, the drug is under a long-term observational study by the FDA. France suspended the drug and Germany recommended not to start new patients on the drug due to mounting concerns for their citizens.

RISK OF BLADDER CANCER

In June of this year the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning about the popular diabetes drug Actos(pioglitazone). The FDA had found that the use of pioglitazone for more than a year may be linked to an increased risk of bladder cancer.

SYMPTOMS OF BLADDER CANCER

Common symptoms of Actos®-related bladder cancer may include:

• ■Blood in urine, sometimes creating a change in urine color
• ■Frequent urination
• ■Painful urination
• ■Urinary tract infection

If you or a loved one developed bladder cancer during or after taking Actos®, Actoplus Met®, Actoplus Met XR®, or Duetact®, call us now at 1-800-632-1404 or SUBMIT A SHORT CASE FORM HERE for a free, no obligation, evaluation of your case.

HERE TO HELP.

If you are interested in claims for Actos, an Actos lawsuit, information on an Actos class action, or want to speak with anActos attorney, please call us today at 1-800-632-1404.

Members of our firm are attorneys currently representing clients who have taken several prescription drugs and claim injuries associated with those drugs, including Topamax®, Wellbutrin®, Fosamax®, and Actos®. Members of the firm also represent clients across the globe pertaining to medical device failures, including the Advanced Bionics HiRes90k® cochlear implant , the TVM / TVT transvaginal mesh – sling and the DePuy hip implant. For a free case evaluation, please contact:

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NOTE: Our team of attorneys will review potential cases for all fifty states, including Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin and Wyoming.