The blockbuster diabetes medication Actos has faced harsh criticism in recent months over growing concerns about the drug’s safety. Amidst serious concerns about cardiovascular problems that have been linked to Actos, the FDA has recently required the drug’s label to be updated to warn patients and healthcare providers about an increased risk of bladder cancer.
The updated warning advises physicians to avoid prescribing Actos to patients with active bladder cancer and recommends that caution be exercised when prescribing the drug to persons with a history of bladder cancer.
Patients taking Actos should also be aware of the potential risk and immediately contact their physciain if they notice blood or red color in their urine. Other potential early warning signs of bladder cancer include:
- Urgent need to urinate
- Pain while urinating
- Pain in the lower back or abdomen
Actos has been on the market since 1999 and is used to treat type-2 diabetes. Over the past few years sales of the drug have soared after a number of studies indicated the drug to be a safer alternative to Avandia which had been linked to serious cardiovascular issues. New studies have indicated that heart risk associated with Actos may be higher than earlier studies have suggested.
The FDA required the label change based on interim findings from an on-going 10 study which suggest that the risk of bladder cancer increases the longer a patient takes the medication.
Numerous Actos bladder cancer lawsuits will likely surface in the next few months as Actos Attorneys begin to file cases on behalf of their clients who have suffered injuries as a result of taking Actos.
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