Actos is a popular drug used for treating Type 2 diabetes and it is manufactured by Takeda Pharmaceuticals. Actos belongs to Avandia (Rosigligazone) class of drugs. In June 1999, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved this drug. The manufacturer introduced this drug in the market without conducting adequate research. In June 2011, the FDA warns the public that the usage of diabetes drug actos (pioglitazone) for more than a year will cause serious side effects such as bladder cancer, heart attack, and some other health problems.
Ten years after the introduction of actos in the market, Takeda Pharmaceuticals conducted a study regarding the effectiveness of actos over this period. Their result also showed that the the risk of bladder cancer is high with people who took actos for more than one year.
Actos Side Effects
Some of the health related issues associated with actos are:
* Stomach pain,
* Chest pain,
* Dehydration,
* Sudden weight gain,
* Fluid retention,
* Peripheral edema,
* Congestive heart failure, etc.
There are also lots of other side effects associated with actos, some are mild and some are severe. But the severity of these side effects is determined on the basis of life style, family history and current health of patients.
Actos Bladder Cancer Symptoms
You should not use actos if any of your family members or you have a history of bladder cancer. You should inform your physician regarding this before he proscribes any medication. The bladder cancer symptoms are sore throat, muscle aches, unusual tiredness or weakness, bone pain, tremors, itching, rashes, hives, breathing problems, frequent headache, blurred vision, swelling in mouth, face, tongues, and lips, chest heaviness, orange or pink urine, bloody urine, frequent urination, intense back pain, etc.
If not treated on time, bladder cancer can spread to nearby parts of the body, such as prostate, vagina, uterus, ureters, and rectum. It can also spread in to some distant body parts, such as liver, lungs, bones and pelvic lymph nodes.
Actos Bladder Cancer Treatment
Bladder cancer can be diagnosed by conducting physical examination, CT scan and cytoscopy. Doctors use four major methods for treating bladder cancer, they are surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. In the first stage, the tumor will be in the bladder line. So, doctors use surgery along with immunotherapy or chemotherapy for removing the tumor. Cancer cells can be killed by improving immune system and this process is called immunotherapy.
In the second and third stage, the tumor spread in tissues surrounding the bladder. During these stages, chemotherapy is used for shrinking the tumor. The next step is the partial or radical cystectomy. In partial cystectomy, doctors remove only the diseased part of the bladder. On the other hand, radical cystectomy is the removal of the bladder completely.
Fourth stage is the highly advanced stage of bladder cancer. Though the chances of curing bladder cancer at this stage is very rare, doctors use chemotherapy for shrinking tumor in hope of extending the life of patients. Chemotherapy is the medical procedure of destroying cancer cells.
Actos Bladder Cancer Lawsuit
If you are injured by actos, you are eligible for getting compensation, which include medical expenses, future medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost earning capacity, future lost income, lost income, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium, wrongful death, and emotional anguish. However, it is essential to act very quickly for preserving your legal rights.