A diabetes drug gone wrong
Video Transcript for the Hearing Impaired:
Actos (known generically as pioglitazone), manufactured by Takeda Pharmaceutical and Eli Lilly, is a 1999 FDA-approved drug prescribed to treat diabetes through management of critical blood sugar levels. However, this seemingly helpful medication designed for taming a significant medical epidemic in the U.S. has now been linked to increased risk of bladder cancer, among other very serious side effects. Other related or generic forms of Actos include:
- Actosplus Met
- Actosplus Met XR
- Duetact
- Pioglitazone
- Pioglitazone hydrochloride chloride & metformin hydrochloride
Actos is actually the second medication in its class to be associated more recently with significant complications. It follows Avandia, which due to its association with heart attack risks has now been restricted in the U.S. Both drugs are among the strongest for reducing body tissue insulin resistance and adjusting cholesterol levels to treat type 2 diabetes.
Serious Side Effects
Studies have shown that patients taking Actos for more than a year may have an increased risk of bladder cancer, an aggressive yet treatable form of cancer if discovered early. This risk has proven especially significant when compared with diabetes patients who take other drugs to treat the disease.
Additional side effects from use of Actos have included signs of congestive heart failure and pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs), such as shortness of breath, swelling of the feet and weight gain, as well as bone fractures in older adults. If you or a loved one with type 2 diabetes has taken Actos for more than a year and has been diagnosed with bladder cancer, there may be a legitimate connection between the medication and cancer. You may very likely have a legal case.
What You Can Do
Actos has already been banned in France and Germany. It’s time for the U.S. to crack down on this potentially lethal prescription—and you can be part of the cause. As part of a mass lawsuit, the Romano Law Group is actively taking people who have experienced serious side effects from Actos use. You could be entitled to compensation along with others who have suffered from bladder cancer or related symptoms as a result of taking this prescription medication. Here where to start:
- Call Romano Law Group today and speak to one of our experienced attorneys who can help you understand your rights regarding the use of defective prescription drugs.
- Be prepared to explain your story to our legal experts so we can help you determine your best course of action for compensation.
- If we determine your case qualifies for a Romano lawsuit, a mass tort specialist will walk you through the process and potential outcomes of a group legal proceeding against a major drug manufacturer.
Please don’t hesitate to call us. We are here to help you understand your legal options and work together for a solution that will benefit both you and the community as a whole.