Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Has Actos Been Proven to Cause Bladder Cancer?

The FDA has recently released a warning on the use of the drug Actos. Initial concerns arising from the use of the drug caused the FDA to request a research study on its effects be completed by the drug’s manufacturer. The manufacturer of Actos is Takeda.

All details herein provided are for educational purposes only, contact an experienced Actos lawsuit attorney for additional information.

Because Actos has been linked to bladder cancer, the Takeda manufacturing company chose to start a 10-year study tracing its effects. The research study began in the year 2000. The research study consisted of participants who were age 40 and older. There were about 193,000 patients participating in the research study. The study found that generally there was no increased risk of bladder cancer for participants who consumed the drug Actos. There were increased risks in a few particular instances, however.

If adults were repeatedly exposed to the consumption of large amounts of Actos, then they had an increased risk of getting bladder cancer. Also, if adults consumed Actos for longer than 12 months, then they were also exposed to an increased risk of bladder cancer.

The FDA has stated that patients can continue using the drug Actos unless otherwise instructed by medical professionals. Many people depend on Actos for the increased sensitivity to insulin it creates within them. Without Actos, people have no way of controlling their blood sugar levels.

Ever since the findings of this research study, the FDA is more concerned about patients who have a history of bladder cancer or have an increased risk for this cancer through genetics. If a patient has had a history of bladder cancer, then the FDA has recommended that doctors do not prescribe Actos to such patients. The FDA is also recommending that doctors do not prescribe this drug to people who may already have an increased risk of bladder cancer through their genetics or other means.

Because there is a likelihood adults will develop bladder cancer after taking this drug, doctors have begun asking patients to consider dropping it. Doctors are now searching for other forms of drugs that can be used to treat Type II diabetes.

Before prescribing this drug to patients, doctors are also taking extra precautions to inform patients of the increased risks. If a patient does decide to take this drug, he or she must be warned of the drug’s potential link to bladder cancer. If a patient is not warned, then he or she may have grounds for a lawsuit against the doctor or manufacturer.

The FDA will now require the packaging of Actos to have a warning label of its potential link to bladder cancer. This warning label must also inform patients of the other side effects associated with taking Actos. If the packaging does not contain this warning, then the FDA can pull the drug from the market.

Goldberg & Osborne, a personal injury law firm, has provided this article for informational purposes only, written by an independent author, and has not reviewed or edited this article and is not responsible for its content or accuracy.