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.

SIDE EFFECTS POSSIBLE 

Actos® is a pioglitazone drug used to treat type 2 diabetes. Pioglitazone is an insulin sensitizer that works by making the tissues more sensitive to the effects of insulin. Bladder Cancer and Congestive Heart Failure are two potential side effects of Actos®.

Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer originate sin the cells that line the urinary tract and is the fourth most common cancer in men and the tenth most common cancer is women. The most presenting symptom of bladder cancer is blood in the urine but patients suffering from bladder cancer often report other complaints such as frequent urination or burning with urination. Treatment of bladder cancer depends on whether the tumor is superficial or invasive, low or high grade, and whether there is local or distant spread. Additional treatment may be required if the tumor is very large, high grade and/or multifocal – more than one tumor exists in more than one location of the bladder. If the patient is unfit for surgery, a combination radiation and chemotherapy is generally used. Those who undergo this combination procedure may experience side effects from both the chemotherapy and radiation.

Congestive Heart Disease

Another potential side effect of Actos® is Congestive Heart Disease. A person suffers from congestive heart failure when the heart fails to pump sufficient blood required to meet the body’s needs. Symptoms of congestive heart disease include muscular fatigue, breathlessness during activities and rest, unexplained wheezing or coughing, swelling of abdomen, legs or ankles. Elder patients who have been prescribed Actos® are more likely to suffer from congestive heart disease.

Other Potential Side Effects

Other side effects of Actos® could include the following, and we would invite inquiries from all:

• allergic reaction (as evidenced by hives; swelling of face, neck or throat);
• shortness of breath;
• swelling or rapid weight gain;
• chest pain, general ill feeling;
• nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools;
• jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• blurred vision;
• increased thirst or hunger, urinating more than usual; or
• pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding, weakness;
• sneezing, runny nose, cough or other signs of a cold;
• headache;
• gradual weight gain;
• muscle pain; or
• tooth problems.

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.