Actos Side Effects

Actos Side Effects Include Adverse Heart Risks

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The Type-2 diabetes medication, Actos (pioglitazone), has been linked to serious side effects including heart attack, heart failure, and even death. If you believe that you or a loved one has been harmed as a result of Actos, the personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of d’Oliveira & Associates can help. You may want to speak to an injury lawyer who can assist you with making important personal and legal decisions. If needed, an injury attorney can help you get the compensation you deserve by filing a drug lawsuit on your behalf.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has asked the manufacturers of Actos to issue a black box warning identifying the dangerous cardiovascular side effects associated with the drug. The black-box warning is the strongest warning that the FDA can request to be put on a medication label. Adverse cardiovascular events linked to Actos have been reported to include heart failure, heart attack, and death caused by a compromised cardiovascular system

Type-2 diabetes affects roughly 18 to 20 million Americans. The disease is characterized by high blood glucose levels, which result from the failure of an individual’s body to properly use insulin. If Type-2 diabetes goes untreated, it can cause, among other things, blindness and kidney problems.

The FDA has taken on an investigation of Actos, which has included analyzing and evaluating clinical data related to the drugs’ side effects, to determine whether a drug recall is necessary. Previously, the FDA had been criticized by several health care professionals and lawmakers for failing to take corrective action despite allegedly having knowledge of Actos’ dangerous cardiovascular side effects.

Actos (pioglitazone) is manufactured by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company. In the United States the oral diabetes medication is co-marketed by Eli Lilly Pharmaceuticals. Actos became FDA approved on July 15, 1999. Type-2 diabetes medications, such as Actos, work by lowering an individual’s glucose levels and reducing the body’s tissue insulin resistance. Actos is in a class of medications called Thiazolidinedione drugs, which are believed to be the strongest drugs available for the treatment of Type-2 diabetes. Thiazolidinedione medications, including Actos, are used by patients who are unable to control their diabetes through diet and exercise alone. Thiazolidinedione medications may be used on their own (Actos) or may be combined with additional active ingredients including metformin (Actoplus met) and glimepiride (duetact).

On August 24, 2010 the Los Angeles Times reported that despite the perceived safety benefits of Actos as compared to another popular diabetes drug, Avandia, the “cardiovascular risks of the two drugs are about the same.” This false belief that Actos is a safer alternative to the competing drug Avandia has even led to a decline in the sales of Avandia from $4.6 billion in 2006 to about $1.1 billion in 2010, while at the same time fostering an increase in sales of Actos to about $4.6 billion in 2010. Consumers should be aware that Actos also carries cardiovascular risks and is likely not any safer than Avandia.

Actos places users of the medication at an increased risk of heart related side effects. Because the disease of Type-2 diabetes itself also increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, any adverse cardiovascular complications have been of particular concern to diabetes patients.

Actos places users of the medication at an increased risk of heart related side effects. Because the disease of Type-2 diabetes itself also increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, any adverse cardiovascular complications have been of particular concern to diabetes patients.

Contact the Law Offices of d'Oliveira & Associates, P.C.

If you believe that you or a loved one has suffered as a result of taking Actos, you may want to speak with an injury attorney regarding a potential drug lawsuit. The personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of d’Oliveira and Associates can help you get the compensation you deserve. An injury lawyer familiar with new developments in the investigation of Actos can assist you in making important personal and legal decisions.

Please contact the law offices of d'Oliveira & Associates at 1-800-992-6878 or fill out a contact form for a free legal consultation.