Let us assist you with your Actos Lawsuit
An Actos Lawsuit is becoming more prevalent as patients and family members seek compensation due to the horrific impact that Actos has had in their lives. The FDA has announced the connection between the drug Actos and bladder cancer. With this warning there has been a corresponding increase in the number of diabetes patients joining the existing Actos lawsuits.
If you or someone you love has taken Actos in the past and has then gone on to develop bladder cancer it is important that you follow up and see if it is worth while joining with other cancer sufferers in making a claim. During these times it is certainly not easy and the decision to initiate an Actos lawsuit can also be a challenging one. At the same time though, it is important to seek professional advice if you, or a loved one, have been impacted by the Actos drug.
Links Between Actos And Bladder Cancer
The drug pioglitazone is marketed under the brand name Actos and around the world under other names. Actos has commonly been used as an oral medication to treat type 2 diabetes in many patients. This diabetes drug has been on the market for several years and was initially only thought to slightly increase the risk of developing bladder cancer. However in more recent years though the impact on people using Actos has been found to be severely underestimated.
Now with long-term research data available, it is clear that there is a connection between those who have taken Actos and those who go one to contract bladder cancer or other serious complications. As this link has become better known sufferers of bladder cancer who have used Actos in the past are coming forward and joining with others in an Actos lawsuit.
FDA Warning
The FDA has recently concluded a five-year study on patients using Actos and the long-term side effects. The FDA then went on to issue a warning in mid 2011 that those who have taken the pioglitazone drug for long periods are at a higher risk of developing bladder cancer than members of the general public. It was also announced that patients who use Actos at the highest cumulative dose are too at increased risk of developing bladder cancer. The FDA then ordered all of the labeling regarding the drug and the medication guide to be updated to reflect these increased risks.
Since the FDA warnings, and all of these changes to the Actos labeling requirements, more patients have stepped up and are now in the process of considering joining others in an Actos lawsuit.
French Studies Support Dangers Of Using Actos
Research studies that have been recently conducted in France so strongly indicated the link between using the drug Actos and the growth of bladder cancer that France has banned the sale of the pioglitazone drug. Germany has followed suit and also removed drugs containing pioglitazone from all of the shelves in the country. The connection is not in doubt. In fact, it is clear that the risk of developing this, often fatal, cancer is increased significantly in those who have taken Actos or any of its brand name counterparts Internationally. Again an Actos Lawsuit took pace.
In France alone almost a quarter of a million patients have been affected by the withdrawal of Actos from the shelves. At this point in time, it is unknown how many of these people may go onto develop bladder cancer, but at least the drug is not able to impact on new patients any longer.
Actos Bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer when it develops is an aggressive and fast moving type of cancer. Hence it is important to receive a diagnosis as quickly as possible so that treatment can be sought before the cancer develops too far. If there is any chance that the cancer was contracted due to the usage of a medication containing pioglitazone then seek legal advice as soon as possible to see if you, or your loved on, are eligible to make a compensation claim in an Actos lawsuit.
If you, or someone you know, have been prescribed and used Actos, or another brand name pioglitazone medication, and bladder problems begin to occur then it is essential to go to your family doctor immediately. Initial symptoms of this aggressive cancer could show up as simple bladder problems. These bladder symptoms may include frequent urination, pain while urinating, needing to urinate but only a small amount comes out or even blood in the urine. So if any of these are experienced then go and have it checked out at the doctor’s as soon as possible!
Other Actos Side Effects
The FDA agrees with other research studies that Actos may have more side effects apart from the development of aggressive bladder cancer. These side effects may include an increased risk of bone fractures in type 2 diabetic, postmenopausal women and also in some men taking Actos. Cardiovascular and heart disease risks have long been connected with medical professionals prescribing pioglitazone to their patients. Liver problems and liver damage have also been linked to Actos usage.
Seeking Assistance With An Actos Lawsuit
It is important to seek out professional assistance and advice in order to know the legal options that are available to you before jumping in with a compensation claim. You can find quality up to date information on an Actos lawsuit and what other bladder cancer patients are themselves doing. The background information that you will receive will help you make an informed decision on the best way to move forward. If there is a clear connection in your own life, or the life of a family member, between the use of the diabetes medication Actos and the development of bladder cancer then it is well worth the consideration of lodging an Actos lawsuit.
Actos Lawsuits
Due to the complex nature of this type of litigation it is important to seek legal advice from attorneys that have had experience with Actos lawsuits in the past. It is also important to note that it is essential to seek compensation at the earliest possible date as the window of time in which an Actos lawsuit may be accepted could be limited.