Although the makers of Actos have long promoted the medication as being safe for diabetics, there are new reasons to believe that patients might be facing serious risks for injuries and issues. This is why many patients are going back to their doctors and asking if alternative treatment options might be safer than taking Actos.

The risks of taking Actos might outweigh the benefits, and those who were injured may have reason to file an Actos lawsuit.

What is Actos?

Actos (also known by its generic name, pioglitazone) is a type of diabetes drug used to control blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. Actos is manufactured by Takeda Pharmaceuticals, and belongs to a class of drugs known as thiazolidinediones. Pioglitazone was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) back in 1999.

Diabetes drugs like Actos help protect type 2 diabetes patients from a slew of issues, such as kidney damage, blindness, nerve damage, and more. In the 20 years since its introduction to the market, Actos has become an increasingly popular option for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Does Actos Cause Heart Problems?

Several studies have been conducted on Actos and its potential negative health consequences.

There are some indications that the general drug class in which Actos falls increases a patient’s risk of heart disease and heart issues. These medications increase the risk due to heart failure danger factors such as irregular heartbeats, coronary artery disease, history of heart attacks, and irregular heartbeats.

If you have any of these issues in your medical history and are concerned about Actos, make sure you bring these up with your doctor before you fill your prescription. All of these concerns are part of the reason that Actos has a black box warning placed on the label.

Does Actos Increase My Risk of Bladder Cancer?

Much of the recent research exploring Actos has to do with possible concerns over bladder cancer.

According to a study published in Cancer Medicine in 2018, although more research needs to be done in order to determine what pre-existing conditions or risk factors may play a role in which Actos users develop bladder cancer, there is a scientifically significant increased rate of cancer occurrence in Actos patients.

The FDA also analyzed the five year marking point from a ten year study looking at patients taking this drug. The agency found that for those patients who had the highest doses of and longest exposure to the medicine that the risk of bladder cancer was higher. Anyone with a history of bladder cancer should be especially cautious about this potential connection.

The FDA added a warning label about the risk of bladder cancer to pioglitazone in 2011, and in 2016 the FDA issued an updated safety announcement after further review, concluding that the drug may indeed be linked with an increased risk of bladder cancer.

What are the Other Side Effects of Actos?

More patients have begun to lodge complaints against the drug manufacturer because of concerns over bladder cancer or heart dangerous, but this does not represent all the risks a patient might face when taking Actos as prescribed. The risks of taking Actos are many.

Other known side effects that could emerge for a diabetes patient using Actos as a treatment can include bloody or dark urine, dizziness, weight gain, shortness or breath, leg pain, pale skin, easy bruising, or extreme thirst.

Does Actos Cause Bone Fractures?

Patients using this medicine might also face a higher risk of bone fracture. This increased risk impacts women more frequently and most often impacts the arms and legs.

The risk of a bone fracture occurring can double when the patient has been taking this medicine for longer than three years.

Am I At Risk for Kidney Disease?

Another troubling side effect for Actos is the possibility of kidney disease. Those patients with diabetes likely already know the dangers of kidney disease, but some studies have pointed out that users of Actos might have a substantially higher risk of getting kidney disease because of their use of the medication.

What is Lactic Acidosis?

Another potential issue with Actos is the potential for lactic acidosis. This is more likely when the medicine is taken with metformin. This condition can be caused when the patient’s blood sugar levels drop and the risk factors are higher for patients with liver damage, heart failure, kidney damage, and a high rate of alcohol use.

Can I File a Lawsuit?

Thousands of lawsuits have been filed against the manufacturer of Actos, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, regarding the medication’s alleged side effects. Many of the plaintiffs involved in these lawsuits claim that the company may have been aware of the risks associated with the drug, and continued to market it to doctors and patients in order to make a profit. According to them, they may not have chosen to take the drug had they been informed of the risks of taking Actos.

Several of these lawsuits have gone to trial, with some plaintiffs being awarded millions of dollars in damages by juries who agreed with their claims that they had been harmed by the drug. In 2015, Takeda agreed to pay out a settlement of almost $2.4 billion to thousands of plaintiffs. Although the company did not admit any wrongdoing as part of the settlement, many of these plaintiffs may have received enough compensation to cover their medical bills and compensate them for their injuries and suffering. According to the New York Times, this settlement may be one of the largest product liability settlements regarding pharmaceutical drugs.

If you believe that a medical condition was caused by a side effect of Actos, you might have grounds for legal action and may be able to pursue compensation. Of course, filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by health complications like bladder cancer or kidney disease, nor can it bring a loved one back to life, but it can at least help to alleviate the financial burden incurred by medical expenses, lost wages, and more.

Filing a lawsuit can be a daunting prospect, especially in the wake of a cancer diagnosis, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.