Actos is used by type II diabetic patients who are not dependent upon insulin injections to control their sugar. Most patients who have taken the drug do not experience any adverse events, however, bladder cancer  has been the most dangerous  side effect associated with Actos.  Any Actos user who has been diagnosed with bladder cancer (including transitional cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma) should contact Powers Taylor LLP at once.

Many clinical studies that were performed on patients taking Actos showed that this population also reported an average weight gain of two to six pounds within 16- 26 weeks of drug administration. The largest weight gains, on average, came in those patients on higher doses of Actos. Weight gain of more than three to five pounds in a week is a possible symptom of congestive heart failure. This was another reason why the drug was also associated with congestive heart failure. Weight gain happened mainly because of the high probability of fluid retention in the body. Fluid retention can be a fatal complication for patients suffering from any kind of heart related problems.

Weight gain, while taking Actos, can be kept under control by following a strict dietary regime, which includes:

  1. Ample fruits, vegetables, grains, and milk & milk products which are either fat- free or low- fat.
  2. Lean meat, poultry, fish, beans, eggs and nuts.
  3. Minimal and fixed amounts of saturated fats, trans-fats, cholesterol, sodium salt and added sugars.

Minor Side Effects:

The minor side effects of the drug are as follows:

  1. Stuffy nose, sneezing, cough, sore throat or any other cold like symptoms or upper respiratory infections.  Approximately 13% of patients have complained of this problem.
  2. Headaches or pain in any other parts of the body.  Approximately 9.1% of patients have reported this problem.
  3. Steady weight gain or water weight gain (edema).  Approximately 4.8% of patients have complained of this problem.
  4. Pain or stiffness of muscles and back.  Approximately 5.4% of patients have complained of this problem.
  5. Sinus irritation or infection.  Approximately 6.3% of patients have complained of this problem.
  6. Tooth disorders.  Approximately 5.33% of patients have complained of this problem.

Major Side Effects:

If you have suffered any of the major side effects associated with Actos, you should request a free case evaluation immediately.  Amongst the major side effects are:

  1. Bladder cancer
  2. Any kind of allergic reactions like
    • hives,
    • difficulty breathing,
    • swelling of face, lips, tongue or throat
  3. Pain in the stomach especially on the upper side
  4. Blood in urine or dark urine or increase in the frequency of urination
  5. Breathlessness even due to mild exertion
  6. Unexplained weight gain
  7. Chest pain or feeling of being unwell
  8. Nausea accompanied with loss of appetite, clay colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
  9. Change in vision, mainly blurred or hazy vision
  10. Paleness of skin
  11. Easy bruising or bleeding
  12. Weakness

This may not be an exhaustive list of all the side effects that the drug may cause, and persons taking Actos should carefully review any warnings provided and discuss the risks and benefits of the medication with their doctor.

Bladder cancer is a relatively rare form of cancer, ranking far behind breast cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, skin cancers, and prostate cancer in terms of frequency.  Accordingly, if any patient that had been prescribed Actos in past is later diagnosed with bladder cancer, the chances are significant that the cancer was caused by Actos.

The possible link with Actos use applies regardless of how the bladder cancer manifests itself — as transitional cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, or adenocarcinoma.  Transitional cell carcinomas begin in the innermost layer of tissue in the bladder, the layer that stretches and shrinks as the bladder fills and empties.  Most bladder cancers are transitional cell carcinomas.  Squamous cell carcinomas begin in a unique type of cell known as a squamous cell, and adenocarcinomas originate in glandular or secretory cells located in or around the bladder.

Even if the patient’s doctor has not mentioned a possible link between Actos and the bladder cancer, that person could still have a valid claim for compensation against Takeda, the drug’s manufacturer.  Many treating physicians, especially those who treat cancer, are simply more focused on treatments, cures, and prognosis for the future.  The patient’s historical exposure to potential carcinogens is typically of more interest to epidemiologists, the scientists who focus on causation.  Powers Taylor LLP will work with epidemiologists to determine whether a particular patient’s bladder cancer can be attributed to their Actos prescriptions.