I’ve heard that Actos can cause bladder cancer. Is that true?

If you’re like most diabetic patients, you’ve probably heard of Actos. Maybe your doctor even prescribed it to you, telling you it was a new drug proven to control blood sugar. You’ve been taking it for a year, and your symptoms seem to be much more manageable.

Until you went in for that recent check up, and your physician tells you that you are in the early stages of bladder cancer. It’s not a coincidence, and it’s not bad luck-it’s very likely a side effect of taking Actos in Florida.

Bladder cancer accounts for sixteen percent of all bladder cases in the country, or about 70,000 new instances every year. Of these cases, bladder cancer claims roughly 15,000 victims annually in the U.S. Actos may contribute to this number: an FDA study revealed that there is an increased risk of bladder cancer while using pioglitazone medications such as Actos.

The FDA has issued the following warnings to doctors prescribing Actos in Palm Beach:

• Do not prescribe Actos to patients with active bladder cancer.
• For patients who have had bladder cancer or are in remission, physicians should take care when recommending Actos. The patient should be fully aware of the risks of cancer recurrence, and may be better served with a different blood sugar medication.

While the FDA has not recalled Actos, it did demand that the drug be marked with a “black box” label-one of the Administration’s highest safety warnings-that calls attention to the potentially-fatal side effects. Others have taken the warning a step further; some European countries discontinued Actos use until they could be proven safe to prescribe.

What should you do if you are currently taking Actos?

• Be aware of the risks surrounding the drug. Read the booklet included with the medication for a full list of the dangers associated with Actos. Do not be afraid to ask your doctor about risks and side-effects, particularly if you have a family history of cancer.
• Do not use if you are a cancer patient. The FDA warns against patients currently undergoing bladder cancer treatment from taking Actos. If your doctor prescribed Actos regardless of your cancer treatments, contact us immediately at (866) 865-1244.
• Seek medical attention if bladder cancer symptoms arise. If you have any painful urination, blood in your urine, a constant “need to go” or sudden lower back pain, get medical help immediately.

As Palm Beach Actos claims attorneys, we know that all medications have side effects. However, if the side effects of a drug are disproportionate to the condition the patient is taking it for, the drug company may be liable for your suffering-especially if any attempt was made to obscure or mitigate the dangers of the medication.

If someone you love has suffered due to an Actos prescription, call Fetterman & Associates today at (866) 865-1244 for a free consultation.