Studies have linked the oral diabetes drug Actos (pioglatizone) to a higher risk of bladder cancer. Other possible side effects include bone fractures.
If you or a loved one has suffered serious side effects from Actos, we encourage you to contact us for a legal consultation.
In June 2011, the Food and Drug Administration issued a warning that the diabetes drug Actos may increase the risk of bladder cancer when used for over a year. The announcement came five days after Germany and France pulled Actos from the market over similar concerns. The new cancer warning will appear on the Actos label, the FDA said.
The Actos warning is based on FDA’s review of data from an ongoing clinical study, which found that Actos increased bladder cancer among patients taking the drug over a long period at high doses. Another current study published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation found that patients taking either Actos or the drug Avandia increased the risk of heart attacks, heart failure, or death by 4 percent.
The FDA advises that doctors not prescribe Actos to patients with bladder cancer, and to use with caution in patients with a family history of bladder cancer.
Actos patients should consult their doctor if they experience the following symptoms of bladder cancer:
According to the FDA, Actos therapy lasting longer than 12 months is associated with a 40 percent increase in risk of bladder cancer. The agency says that the benefits of blood sugar control with Actos should be measured against the “unknown risk for cancer recurrence.”
*Do not stop taking medication without consulting with your physician or a medical professional
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