Diabetes Drug Actos- Frequently Asked Questions

Diabetes Drug Actos Questions

What is Actos?

Actos is a prescription drug that is primarily prescribed to patients who have type- 2 diabetes. It is used to regulate the amount of insulin in the body. Usually, Actos is prescribed to lower the amount of glucose present in the blood.

What forms of Actos are there?

There are several forms of Actos prescribed, including Actos, Actosplus met, and Actosplus met xr.

What are some of the problems with Actos?

Actos has a black box warning, the FDA’s highest warning for a drug that is still allowed on the market, for its increased risk of heart attack. However, new studies are linking it to an increased risk of developing Bladder Cancer.

Has Actos been pulled from the market?

Actos is still available for purchase in the United States but in France and Germany it has been taken off the market. A French study looked at over one million patients and concluded that patients taking Actos were put at a 22% higher risk for developing bladder cancer over those who had not taken the drug. Another study that was reviewed by the FDA, indicated up to a 40% increased risk of developing bladder cancer as a result of taking Actos.

Who is most at risk for developing bladder cancer while taking Actos?

The chance of developing bladder cancer with Actos use increases the longer a patient has been taking it. Those who have the higher cumulative doses are more at risk. The more Actos that a person has ingested, the greater the risk of developing bladder cancer.

What steps has the FDA taken?

In September 2010, the Food and Drug Administration announced that they were reviewing preliminary safety information on Actos. The FDA has continued to monitor studies performed by the manufacturer of Actos and ones performed in Europe. Then, in June 2011, the FDA issued an “urgent health warning” relating to the bladder cancer risk of Actos. The FDA approved new labeling on Actos to include the Bladder Cancer risk. They will continue to monitor studies and new information. Actos remains on the market in the U.S. although it has already been pulled in some European countries.

What legal options do I have if I developed Bladder Cancer after taking Actos?

After you have begun treatment for bladder cancer, it is important to contact an Actos lawyer to protect your legal rights. An Actos lawyer can evaluate your case against the manufacturers of Actos and determine the best way to proceed forward in the legal system. By contacting a lawyer, your rights will be protected. If a firm accepts your case, they will review your medical records and begin a lawsuit on your behalf.