Actos is manufactured and marketed by the Takeda Pharmaceutical Company of Osaka, Japan, and Deerfield, Illinois. In 2008, Actos sales in the United States alone reached more than $2.4 billion, making it the 10th best selling drug domestically. While it’s known as Actos in the United States, the drug has many names overseas: Glustin in most of Europe, Glizone in India and Zactos in Mexico.
Actos: What is it prescribed for?
In general terms. Actos is medically prescribed to improve blood sugar, or glucose, control in adult patients who suffer from type 2 diabetes. While Actos is the brand name, the drug is also known by it’s chemical name Pioglitazone. In more specific medical terms Pioglitazone (Actos) accelerates or increases a type-2 diabetes patients sensitivity to insulin. Because their bodies don’t manage the use of insulin properly, type-2 diabetes patients need such a drug to ensure that the levels of sugar are controlled in the bloodstream. If taken daily as prescribed and combined with a healthy diet and an appropriate exercise regimen, Actos can successfully regulate blood sugar, address this insulin management problem and offer these patients a reprieve from insulin intake issues. As there is no known medical cure for diabetes, patients who are utilizing Actos must take the drug as prescribed for an indefinite time period. (please, all the information offered here is general at best. If you require more specific information about Actos, please contact your primary physician.)
Actos: Why is it unavailable in France and Germany?
In case you hadn’t heard there have been a number of consumer, patient, medical and legal concerns about Actos causing, among other painful and even lethal or deadly side effects, bladder cancer in some patients. It is for this reason, an increased risk of bladder cancer that has been connected to the use of Actos, among others, that Actos is not presently available in either Germany or France. What this means to people, Actos users, here in the United States is that they have to be very conscious of the side effects and if they or a loved one is experiencing side effects or has lost their life to contact an Actos attorney as soon as possible.
Actos: The United Stated Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has concerns.
While it is still available in the United States, the FDA has been quite involved in the risks associated with Actos and has recently released a statement alerting medical professionals and consumers that use of Actos for more than one year could result in bladder cancer.
Actos: Side effects, bladder cancer.
Some of the more commonly known side effects of Actos are vomiting, weight gain, sore throats, fevers, muscle aches, headaches, sinus pain, allergic reactions, respiratory issues, swelling of facial muscles or extremities, chest tightness, blurred vision, events associated with heart failure or cardiac arrest, nausea, liver problems and of course one of the most talked about, bladder cancer.
Actos: What is bladder cancer?
Bladder cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells grow and multiply without control inside the organ that stores urine; the bladder. The results are malignant, or cancerous, growths within the bladder. One of the most common symptoms or signs of a bladder problem is seeing blood in the urine itself, frequent urination or any urine tract pain. Of course, if you notice any irregularity, pain or discomfort, please see a doctor immediately.
Actos: Like another product that caused health risks.
Actos shares some the cardiovascular (heart) safety characteristics that have been previously associated with a brand name drug called Avandia, or its chemical name Rosiglitazone. Due to the public health concerns of cardiac events (heart attacks, congestive heart failure, among others) Avandia has been withdrawn from market.
Actos: Why people are filing legal claims?
Patients, Actos users, who meet specific criteria and are filing claims are doing so to get financial justice for what they have suffered and to protect themselves and their loved ones: medical bills, loss of income, physical and psychological damages. If you or a loved one has questions about your legal rights or would like to file a claim, please don’t hesitate to contact a qualified, experienced Actos lawyer.
