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Actos Attorney Reviewing Actos Bladder Cancer

Actos Attorneys at Kirkendall Dwyer LLP are reviewing Actos bladder cancer cases nationwide.

Actos is a diabetes treatment manufactured by Takeda Pharmaceuticals, and was approved by the FDA in 1999.  At the time it was welcomed as a safer alternative to the problem-riddled diabetes drug Avandia, which was linked to heart attack, stroke, and even death.

But it wasn’t long before Actos developed a list of complications all its own.  In addition to being hit with a black box warning from the FDA linking the drug to serious cardiovascular problems, in 2011 the FDA recognized the increased risk of developing bladder cancer with Actos use.

The FDA recommended that doctors not prescribe Actos in patients with bladder cancer, and to use it with extreme caution in patients with a history of bladder cancer.

Common Symptoms of Bladder Problems with Actos

Symptoms of bladder complications include:

  • Blood in the urine
  • Red-colored urine
  • Worsening urinary urgency
  • Pain while urinating

The likelihood of developing bladder cancer increases with higher doses and longer durations of use.  Therefore if you have been taking high doses of the drug for a long period of time, you should be carefully monitored by your doctor.

Actos Banned in France and Germany

After evaluating studies revealing the risk of developing bladder cancer while taking Actos, the medical regulatory agencies of France and Germany felt the risks of Actos outweighed the benefits, and so took the drug off their markets.  Studies showed that Actos users had a 22% higher risk of developing bladder cancer than individuals taking other diabetes drugs.

It has taken longer for the FDA to recognize such risks, but now it has chosen to include warnings about the potential of developing bladder cancer.

An Actos Attorney at Kirkendall Dwyer LLP Can Help

If you have been taking the diabetes medication Actos and have experienced these or any other complications, call an Actos attorney at Kirkendall Dwyer LLP.  We have the knowledge and compassion to provide you accurate and immediate answers.  Call us today or fill out a form for a free evaluation.