FDA Study Links Actos® to Bladder Cancer
If you have you used diabetes drug Actos® and you have bladder cancer, let us help.
Actos®, Actoplus Met®, Actoplus Met XR® are brand-name drugs manufactured by Takeda Pharmaceuticals, a Japanese Corporation, and co-marketed in the United States by Eli-Lilly Pharmaceuticals, that contain the generic drug pioglitazone. It is prescribed to adults with Diabetes Mellitus (Type 2) to help control blood sugar levels. Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes do not use insulin normally and therefore cannot control the amount of sugar in their blood.
A study in France revealed that the use of Actos® (Pioglitazone) for more than 12 months caused a 40% increase in the risk of bladder cancer. France initially restricted the use of Actos® and pioglitazone-containing drugs but suspended its use in September of this year.
Germany has banned Actos® completely.
On June 15, 2011, the FDA released a drug safety communication (http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm259150.htm) to inform the public of these results. The FDA recommended that physicians not prescribe Actos® to patients with active bladder cancer, and to use caution in patients with a prior history of bladder cancer. So while Actos® has not been pulled from the U.S. market, its use has been linked to an increased risk of bladder cancer.
If you are or someone you know has taken Actos® for more than one (1) year and has been diagnosed with bladder cancer, contact an experienced personal injury attorney at the Moschetta Law Firm, P.C., for a free evaluation of your potential lawsuit.
Consult your doctor before stopping any medication, including Actos®
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bladder Cancer?
The Bladder is balloon shaped organ located in the lower abdomen that stores urine. Bladder cancer typically starts in the lining of the bladder but may migrate to other areas. There are three types of bladder cancer that begin in cells in the lining of the bladder: Transitional cell carcinoma (most common); Squamous cell carcinoma and Adenocarcinoma.
The National Cancer Institute (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/bladder), estimates that in 69,250 new cases of bladder cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2011, and 14,990 will die from the disease.
What are the Symptoms of Bladder Cancer?
Symptoms of bladder cancer can include:
- Blood in the urine (hematuria)
- Abdominal pain
- Urinary frequency
- Urinary urgency
- Urine leakage (incontinence)
- Weight loss
- Bone pain or tenderness
- Fatigue
- Painful urination
What Tests are Used to Diagnose Bladder Cancer?
Tests that examine the urine, vagina or rectum that are used to help detect (find) and diagnose bladder cancer include:
- CT or CAT (computed axial tomography) scans
- MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans
- PET (positron emission tomography) scans
- Urinalysis
- Internal exam
- Intravenous pyelogram (IVP) A dye is injected, which then travels through the urinary system and shows up on an X-ray
- Cystoscopy
- Bone scan
- Chest X-ray
- CT urogram
How do I know if I have a Case?
You should first confirm with your pharmacist that you have been taking Actos® for more than 1 year. Then consult your medical provider to see if you were diagnosed with bladder cancer since taking Actos® (pioglitazone). Once you confirm these facts, you should contact an experienced personal injury attorney at the Moschetta Law Firm, P.C., for a free evaluation and to learn your legal rights.
