Actos is a prescription medication used to manage type 2 diabetes by helping control blood sugar levels. However, studies have linked long-term use to serious health concerns, including certain cancers. If you or a loved one was diagnosed with cancer after using Actos, you may have the right to pursue compensation for your losses, and our Miami personal injury attorneys are here to help you take the next steps.
Actos and Bladder Cancer
In 1999, the FDA approved Actos for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, and it quickly became a best-selling drug that helps control blood sugar. However, in 2011 the FDA released a safety announcement concerning Actos and its link to bladder cancer. The report was released after the agency reviewed data from an ongoing study by the drug’s manufacturer, Takeda Pharmaceuticals. Though the data didn’t show an overall increased risk of bladder cancer among users, it did demonstrate that patients taking the drug at a high dose for more than one year had a 40% higher risk of developing the condition.
In response to these new revelations, the FDA warned that Actos should not be prescribed to individuals who have bladder cancer, and physicians should use caution with individuals who have a history of the disease. Patients who are on the medication are also advised to watch for signs and symptoms of bladder cancer, such as:
- Blood in urine.
- Back and/or lower abdominal pain.
- An urgent need to urinate.
- Painful urination.
Because it appears that the manufacturer may have been aware of the cancer link but failed to provide adequate warnings to patients and physicians, users of the medication who developed bladder cancer may be entitled to file a lawsuit to recover damages.




