Actos - Defective Drugs
The FDA has issued a warning of bladder cancer risk associated with use of the diabetes drug Actos otherwise known as pioglitazone.
An excerpt from the 6/15/2011 report states:
"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is informing the public that use of the diabetes medication Actos (pioglitazone) for more than one year may be associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer. Information about this risk will be added to the Warnings and Precautions section of the label for pioglitazone-containing medicines. The patient Medication Guide for these medicines will also be revised to include information on the risk of bladder cancer."
This warning comes after reviews of data from a five-year analysis of an ongoing study by Takeda Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of Actos,. The results show there was an increased risk of bladder cancer among those who had used the drug the longest as well as a greater risk of bladder cancer among the Actos users who had been exposed higher cumulative doses of the Actos.
Officials stated information about this risk must be added to the labeling of all Actos and pioglitazone as well as patient medication guides. FDA officials also have stated that Actos should never be prescribed to patients with bladder cancer or who have a history of bladder cancer.
Just this September the FDA launched a safety review of Actos after data from the manufacturer's ongoing 10-year study suggested that the drug may increase the risk of bladder cancer, and the agency says it is also aware of a recent study in France that suggests an increased risk of bladder cancer associated with Actos use. Based on the study, France suspended use of the drug and has advised physicians there against starting Actos with new patients.
Actos is part of a group of drugs known as thiazolidinediones that are used to treat type 2 diabetes. Actos is designed to control blood sugar by increasing the body's sensitivity to insulin.
If you or a loved one has experienced heart related or bladder cancer side effects or complications while using ACTOS please contact us using our contact form or simply give us a call at 503.452.5858 or toll-free 855.269.3776
Link to ABC News story:
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/DiabetesTreatment/fda-warns-bladder-cancer-risk-actos/story?id=13850066
