Actos Lawsuit Lawyer
Actos has been linked to an increased risk of bladder cancer. Anyone taking Actos for more than one year may face a 40% increase in the risk of developing bladder cancer. If you or someone you love developed bladder cancer after taking Actos, contact an experienced Actos Lawyer at Matthews & Associates for a free legal consultation regarding an Actos lawsuit.
Please note: Matthews & Associates is no longer accepting Actos cases.
Actos Settlement
May 4, 2015 Update: Takeda, maker of Actos, has agreed to pay $2.37 billion to settle some 8,000 Actos lawsuits brought by U.S. citizens who allege they were injured by the drug.
What is Actos?
Actos is a prescription drug used to help improve blood sugar control in adults suffering from type 2 diabetes. Actos was designed to help the body make better use of the insulin it creates and to prevent the liver from making excess sugar.
Actos:
- goes by the generic name of pioglitazone hydrochloride
- contains the active ingredient pioglitazone hydrochloride
- was originally approved by the FDA in July of 1999
- is manufactured by Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.
- is approved to help control high blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes
Actos Legal News
The first Actos bladder cancer trial was held in April 2013 in Los Angeles, Calif. Plaintiffs won a $6.5 million verdict which the judge later threw out on the grounds that the plaintiff’s attorneys had failed to prove their man’s bladder cancer was caused by Actos. Takeda also lost a $9 billion jury verdict in Louisiana in 2014, an award which the judge later reduced. Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. was ordered by a W. Va. jury to pay $155,000 for destroying documents regarding its Actos diabetes medicine; the panel concluded the missing files prevented a man from proving his claims that the drug caused his cancer. A Pennsylvania state court jury in 2014 ordered Takeda to pay $2 million to a former Actos user whose bladder cancer the jury said was caused by the drug. Eight Actos law suits have reached the courts so far, with five plaintiffs winning their cases. David Matthews of Matthews & Associates is scheduled to try an Actos case in Chicago, Illinois – in the multidistrict litigation court established for Actos cases – in summer 2015.
Off Label Uses of Actos
Despite the severe side effects related to the use of Actos, many users take the drug to treat Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Women with PCOS can demonstrate signs or symptoms such as ovulation problems, irregular menstrual cycles, insulin resistance, and unwanted hair growth, among other issues.
Severe Actos Side Effects
While Actos is often effective in improving blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes, the side effects associated with the drug are often severe and sometimes life threatening. The side effects include:
- Bladder Cancer
- Stomach pain
- Nausea or vomiting
- Blood in urine and/or painful urination
- Shortness of breath and/or weakness
- Rapid weight gain or swelling
- Chest pain
- Yellowing of the eyes or skin (Jaundice)
- Skin easily bleeding or bruising
- More Actos side effects
Less Severe Actos Side Effects
Not all of the Actos side effects are as serious or life threatening as some of those listed above. Less severe Actos side effects include:
- Muscle/Back pain
- Problems with teeth
- Common cold symptoms
- Headache
- Gradual Weight gain
- More Actos side effects
Contact an Actos Lawyer
If you or someone you love is experiencing any of the severe or life-threatening side effects of Actos, contact an Actos lawyer now. Contact experienced Actos lawyers at Matthews and Associates by calling toll free 1-888-520-5202 or by providing your information on our contact form.
Actos FDA Safety Announcement
In August of 2011, the FDA released a safety communication stating that the use of Actos for more than one year may be related to an increased risk of bladder cancer. This information is now printed on Actos drug labels.
Actos Resources
Actos Lawsuit Information
If you or a loved one has developed bladder cancer from the use of Actos, you may qualify for compensation to help with the cost of your medical expenses as well as pain and suffering. Contact an Actos lawyer for a free consultation and Actos lawsuit information. Call Matthews and Associates toll free at 1-888-520-5202. Please view our testimonials to see how we have helped others.
