Every year, approximately 2.3 million patients file a prescription for Actos in America, making it one of the country’s most popular diabetes medications.
Unfortunately, Actos is notorious for its side effects. Some of these side effects can be quite dangerous. Standard Actos side effects include flu-like symptoms, sore throat, headache, or muscle, teeth, and mouth pain.
More serious side effects, however, include heart problems, which is why patients with congestive heart problems are advised against taking Actos. Actos has also been linked to bladder cancer.
Actos is sold in America exclusively under the brand name “Actos.” However, the generic version of Actos – called pioglitazone – can be purchased in other countries outside of the U.S. You can purchase Actos in doses of 15, 30, or 45 mg tablets.
Actos and Heart Failure
Actos is not recommended to patients with existing heart problems. Although it doesn’t appear to directly cause heart problems, Actos has been shown to exacerbate symptoms of congestive heart failure, including weight gain, dyspnea, and edema.
If you’re classified as a class III or class IV congestive heart failure individual (according to the NY Heart Association), then you should not take Actos.
Actos and Bladder Cancer
Perhaps the most frightening side effect of Actos is that it can potentially lead to bladder cancer. In June 2011, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued the following warning:
“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is informing the public that use of the diabetes medication Actos (pioglitazone) for more than one year may be associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer.”
That information comes from a planned 5-year interim analysis of a 10-year long study. Patients with the “longest exposure” and “highest cumulative dose” of Actos were observed to be more likely to develop bladder cancer.
As a result, prolonged use of Actos is not recommended. The FDA also recommends that health care professions not prescribe Actos to patients with active bladder cancer or a history of bladder cancer.
Actos and Other Serious Side Effects
In addition to the heart-related side effects, bladder cancer, and flu-like symptoms listed above, Actos has been associated with other serious side effects, including:
-Nausea
-Vomiting
-Jaundice
-Vision loss or changes in vision (like blurred vision)
-Hypoglycemia
-Stomach pain and blood in your urine
-Painful urination
-Shortness of breath even after mild exertion
-Chest pain or a general feeling of illness
-Pale, easily bruised skin
-Increased thirst or hunger
-Pain in the upper stomach, itching, dark urine, loss of appetite, and clay-colored stools
It’s also important to note that there have been no studies on the safety and effectiveness of Actos for those under 18 years of age, and the drug is typically only prescribed to adults. The drug has also not been studied in women who are pregnant or nursing.
Should You File a Lawsuit?
Every case is unique, and until we know more details about your case, we can’t definitively say whether or not you should file a lawsuit.
In cases where you’ve been seriously hurt or injured as a result of a pharmaceutical drug, however, you need to stand up for your rights. With top customer ratings on Avvo, Johnson & Biscone can help you pursue pharmaceutical litigation in Oklahoma.
Johnson & Biscone specializes in Actos side effects – particularly Actos and bladder cancer cases – and has a proven history of tackling some of the pharmaceutical industry’s largest brands – including Yaz, Reglan, and Darvocet.
Call today at 405-232-6490 or toll-free at 1-800-426-4563 to setup a free consultation when we can talk about the side effects of Actos and your best course of action. Calls are answered every day!
