Pharmaceutical Litigation Attorneys

WE ARE NO LONGER ACCEPTING ACTOS CASES

Filing an Actos Lawsuit for Injuries Caused by Actos (Pioglitazone)

Actos (pioglitazone) is a treatment for type 2 diabetes. Available only by prescription, pioglitazone is in a class of medications called thiazolidinediones. Thiazolidinediones work in the body to balance the blood sugar by increasing the cells’ receptiveness to insulin. Patients may have taken this drug under the brand name Actos or under other names such as Actoplus Met (pioglitazone and metformin) or Duetact (pioglitazone and glimepiride). People experiencing adverse side effects have begun filing actos lawsuits. More than two million Americans with type 2 diabetes take Actos. Many are increasingly concerned (and rightfully so) about potential side effects. Actos is the most prescribed medication for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, generating 3.4 billion in sales in 2009. However, recent studies have shown a link between this medication and bladder cancer. Some users are therefore considering their legal options in filing an Actos lawsuit against the manufacturer, Takeda Pharmaceuticals. With the serious side effects they have experienced, recovering financial compensation can make a significant difference in their ability to pay for medical care, lost earnings and other financial, physical and emotional losses or injuries.  

Serious Side Effects Linked to Actos

People taking this medication for treatment of type 2 diabetes should be aware that they are at risk for developing serious side effects, including new or worsening heart failure and liver problems. The government has also warned of pioglitazone and bladder cancer risks. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning in September of 2010 about Actos and bladder cancer after reviewing data from a ten-year study conducted by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, the drug manufacturer. Data showed a link between Actos and bladder cancer. People taking the highest doses of the drug, or who had taken the drug for a long time, were at the highest risk of developing bladder cancer. Many of those victims have filed an Actos lawsuit. In addition to bladder cancer, Actos may pose additional risks which can be harmful, permanent or life-threatening.
  • Bone Fracture Risk – Actos may increase the risk of bone fracture by two or more times.  The risk is shown to be greater in women but can include men and occurs mostly in the arms, lower legs, or hips and is likely related to Actos’ effect on the growth of bone tissue.
  • Congestive Heart Failure – Actos may double the chance of heart failure.  Beginning i 2007, the FDA required the addition of a “black-box warning” to be included on information for Actos noting the risk of Congestive Heart Failure.
  • Chronic Kidney Disease – Taking Actos may increase the risk of kidney disease by as much as 400 percent.  Kidney disease causes high blood pressure, worsens cardiac problems and may result a kidney replacement or end stage renal disease (ESRD) which can cause death.
  • Macular Edema – Macular edema may result in damage to the retina and permanent blindness.  The risk of macular edema is greater in diabetic patients. A 2009 study showed that the medication doubles the risk of developing macular edema and blindness.
  When results of an Actos study by the French government also found a link between Actos and bladder cancer in June of 2011, regulators in France and Germany issued an Actos recall, pulling the drug off the market. In response, the FDA required a change in the Actos side effects labeling to warn people taking the drug for their type 2 diabetes of the risk. The FDA did not issue an Actos recall in the U.S.  

Dangerous Symptoms

Before the labeling change, patients taking Actos may not have known about or understood the link between Actos and bladder cancer, and this is why many are pursuing an Actos lawsuit. They may have even experienced potential symptoms of bladder cancer without realizing what they were or that they could have been linked to Actos use. Inform your doctor immediately if you took Actos for your type 2 diabetes and are experiencing such symptoms as:
  • Blood in the urine
  • Urinary urgency
  • Pain during urination
  • Back or abdominal pain
  • New or worse heart failure;
  • Edema;
  • Liver problems;
  • Bladder cancer;
  • Hypoglycemia;
  • Broken bones/fractures;
  • Macular edema; and
  • Ovulation leading to pregnancy.
 

Actos Lawsuits – What You Need to Know

Victims of harm caused as a direct result of taking Actos have the right to take legal action against Takeda Pharmaceuticals. An Actos lawsuit may seek damages based on Takeda’s negligence. These Actos lawsuits allege that Takeda failed to properly warn of the risks of taking Actos, continued to manufacture and market the drug despite known risks, manufactured a defective product, failed to properly test Actos, or/and did not reveal Actos testing data to the public. There are class action lawsuits currently pending against Actos’ manufacturer. You may have the right to join an existing Actos lawsuit, or file a civil action independently. Working with an Actos attorney will ensure that you have the information to properly present your case for damages in the Actos litigation.  

Contact Our Office for a Free Case Review

If you took pioglitazone for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and your doctor later diagnosed you with bladder cancer, you may have cause to file an Actos bladder cancer lawsuit. The pharmaceutical company may not have warned you adequately of the link between Actos and bladder cancer. You may have been wrongfully prescribed this medication. A pharmaceutical litigation lawyer at Napoli Shkolnik, PLLC can provide you with a free legal consultation to learn your rights. Our lawyers have helped thousands of people injured by defective prescription drugs. We want to represent you in your Actos lawsuit. We are not afraid to take on the pharmaceutical company to fight for what matters to you, justice and compensation. To learn more about your right to legal action, call us today to schedule a case consultation.
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