Recent Studies Confirm Actos’ Link to Bladder Cancer

Since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released information notifying consumers of the link between Actos and bladder cancer, this Type 2-Diabetes medication has been a controversy. Newly published research in the Canadian Medical Association Journal confirms that Actos does, in fact, play a significant role in increasing the risk of bladder cancer, especially when taken for an extended period of time in high doses. According to the results, patients taking Actos had increased their likelihood of developing bladder cancer by a shocking 22%.

Undoubtedly, the FDA’s warning to consumers last year concerning Actos came with good reasoning.  Another study released in Med Page Today reports that patients who had taken Actos or its generic counterpart, pioglitazone, for their diabetes at any period during treatment had raised a higher risk of about 83% for developing bladder cancer. This has brought many to question the safety of other diabetes medications of the same drug classification known as glitazones. However, similar medicines such as Avandia have been examined and were found to have no effect on the increased risk of bladder cancer. Studies provide evidence that these medications are out of the danger zone when it comes to bladder cancer, but may pose other frightening adverse reactions such as heart attacks, strokes, and death.

How is Actos Linked to Bladder Cancer?

Although the exact correlation between Actos and bladder cancer has not been proved, professionals have developed several explanations for the side effect. Unlike other glitazones diabetes medications, Actos can often produce crystal formation in the body, which in turn severely irritates the bladder. Another theory suggests that the adjusted production of insulin within the body can encourage growth of cancer cells. Researches have yet to confirm the root cause and the missing link between Actos and the development of bladder cancer.

Lawsuits and Actos

Actos hit the market in 1999, and by August 2011 the first lawsuits against the cancer-causing medication were filed. Since then, thousands of cases against Takeda Pharmaceuticals have been taken to court. If you have bladder cancer related to treatment with Actos, it is important that you get the compensation you deserve. Symptoms of bladder cancer may include:

• pain in the lower abdomen or back
• inability to urinate, difficulty urinating, or urine that contains blood
• decrease in appetite
• rapid weight loss

For more information about Actos lawsuits or to speak with an attorney, report your case on our forum or visit www.actos-lawsuit.org.

Sources: http://central-pennsylvania.legalexaminer.com/fda-and-prescription-drugs/new-study-reinforces-last-years-actos-safety-update.aspx?googleid=302160

http://www.prweb.com/releases/Bernstein-Liebhard/actos-bladder-cancer-link/prweb9676634.htm