ACTOS – Is There a Link to Bladder Cancer?

 

The FDA is looking into a possible link between the type 2 diabetes drug Actos and bladder cancer.  Diabetes is a serious health condition.  Often serious conditions require treatment with strong pharmaceuticals that pose some risks of their own.  But is bladder cancer an acceptable risk?  Our lawyers do not think it is which is why our attorneys are now reviewing potential Actos lawsuits. You can call us to discuss your potential lawsuit at 800-553-8082 or get a free, no obligation consultation here.

Actos has been pulled from some European markets.  If the FDA is concerned enough to review the findings of a long term study on Actos and bladder cancer can a U.S. recall be far behind?

What Actos Treats

Actos (Pioglitazone) is prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes.  Pioglitazone is in a class of medications called thiazolidinediones, and works by increasing the body's sensitivity to insulin.  Actos is taken orally, typically once a day. Actos is approved as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemie control in patients with Type  2 diabetes (non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus). Actos is also used in combination with a sulfonylurea, metformin, or insulin when diet and exercise is not able to get the patient's glycemie under control.

Are Actos Lawsuits on Dcck?

In September 2010, the FDA posted a notice that they were “reviewing data from an ongoing, ten-year epidemiological study designed to evaluate whether pioglitazone (Actos) is associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer. Findings from studies in animals and humans suggest this is a potential safety risk that needs further study.”

The manufacturer of Actos, Takeda, warns in its drug information insert:

In clinical studies, more people who took pioglitazone developed bladder cancer than people who did not take pioglitazone. Talk to your doctor about the risk of taking this medication.

In what may be a harbinger of things to come in the United States, both Germany and France have suspended any new prescription of Actos after a 3 year French study found a 22% greater chance of bladder cancer in Actos users compared to other diabietics.   This is significant as there is already a higher risk of bladder cancer among diabetics. 
Thus far, the Japanese Health Ministry has no plans to halt sales of Actos, but in a move mirroring the FDA, the European Medicines Agency, based in London, said it was reviewing information and studies regarding the link between Actos and bladder cancer.
For now, the FDA recommends that health care providers continue to prescribe Actos according to the drug label recommendations.  But obviously, there is some reason for concern. Besides the bladder cancer risk, Actos has a long list of reported side effects, including:

  • vision problems
  • increased bone fractures in women
  • muscle pain
  • nausea
  • congestive heart failure
What Should Actos Users Do? 

Diabetes is a very serious condition.  For some, the benefits of taking Actos may outweigh the risks.  Medication should not be stopped without speaking to a health care provider.  Paying close attention to any side effects is a good idea with any medication.  Paying close attention to any FDA findings is also advisable. If you have bladder or prostate cancer and have been taking Actos, call us at 800-553-8082

  • Free Consultation (get a free evaluation of you potential Actos bladder cancer lawsuit at 800-553-8082 online)
  • More on Actos and Bladder Cancer (give your thoughts no your experiences with Actos)
  • Concern spreads to Canada (Health Canada considers pulling Actos from market)