Across America, millions of patients suffer from severe type-2 diabetes symptoms and rely on aggressive medications like Actos to balance their insulin. Unfortunately, Actos has been linked to a number of severe side effects, including congestive heart failure (CHF).

What is Congestive Heart Failure?

Generally speaking, congestive heart failure (CHF) is when blood is not being pumped sufficiently through the body because the heart is not beating at normal rate. It is important to note that heart disease can occur in a type-2 diabetes patient along with high blood pressure; both of these conditions can cause congestive heart failure. Symptoms of Actos congestive heart failure include: fatigue, abdomen swelling, rapid heart rate, and persistent coughing. Doctors often use chest X-rays or other diagnostic imaging to diagnose the condition.

Study Suggests Actos May Lead To CHF

According to a study conducted by Kaiser Permanente Northwest, research showed that 7.7 percent of 9,591 diabetes patients developed congestive heart failure after using Actos for 30 months. Over the years, there have been a number of Actos warnings from the FDA, focusing on its severe side effects. For congestive heart failure, the first warning came in 2000 when the agency warned patients with certain cardiac conditions against taking Actos. The next warning of heart failure came in 2007, when the FDA added a black-box warning to the Actos label, specifically stating the risk of heart failure.

While it is important for diabetic patients to have as many of treatment options to manage their symptoms, medical experts state that patient should always compare the benefits and the risks of taking a medication. Additionally, determining if patients have a heart condition that could be fatal if combined with Actos, would also be helpful. The American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association recommend that doctors should conduct the following tests before prescribing Actos:

• Check for any evidence of cardiac disease
• Check if patient is taking drugs that could cause fluid retention
• Check for shortness of breath due to cardiac disease
• Confirm that patients know to look out for symptoms like weight gain, shortness of breath or fatigue

Overview of Actos Cardiac Complications

Actos is an aggressive type-2 diabetes treatment medication that was approved to market in 1999. It is manufactured by Takeda Pharmaceuticals, and is often prescribed to diabetic patients who do not respond well or at all to front-line treatment drugs. Actos is a member of the thiazolidinedione (TZD) drug family, which are known to increase the production of insulin and regulate blood sugar levels. However, thiazolidinediones have been known to cause cardiac complications like congestive heart failure.

In one pre-clincial trial, 5,238 patients were either given Actos or a placebo, and were then observed for any side effects that patients experienced. According to the trial, a large percent of Actos patients suffered serious heart failure, which resulted in several deaths. Despite early clinical studies indicating severe Actos side effects like cardiac complications and bladder cancer, Actos was released into market with limited adverse effect warnings. As of now, it is unknown as to how Actos causes congestive heart failure but some believe it is tied to how Actos is processed in the body.

Actos Lawsuits

Despite the severity of Actos complications, Takeda Pharmaceuticals has failed to inform patients and the medical community of this possibility of congestive heart failure and other dangerous side effects of Actos. This has resulted numerous Actos lawsuits being filed against the drug manufacturer for various product liability claims.

Do YOU have a legal claim? Fill out the form on this page now for a free, immediate, and confidential case evaluation. The attorneys who work with Top Class Actions will contact you if you qualify to let you know if an individual Actos lawsuit or Actos class action lawsuit is best for you. [In general, Actos bladder cancer lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.] Hurry — statutes of limitations may apply.

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