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Hi, I’m David Henson, managing partner of HensonFuerst Attorneys. This past summer,
in June 2011, the FDA revealed that use of the diabetes medication Actos for more than
one year was linked to an increased risk of bladder cancer. This risk pertains not just
to Actos, but any medication that contains pioglitazone (PIE-oh-GLID-e-zone)---the same
active ingredient found in Actos. These include Actoplus Met, Actoplus Met XR, and Duetact.
Actos has been prescribed to people with type 2 diabetes to increase the body’s sensitivity
to insulin. It has been available for more than a decade, but it became popular in the
fall of 2010 when another diabetes drug---AVANDIA---was found to cause an increased risk of cardiovascular
disease. How popular? Well, from January 2010 through October 2010, approximately 2.3 million
people filled a prescription for Actos or one of the Actos-containing medications.
Estimates suggest that up to 5,000 people may have already developed bladder cancer
as a result of taking Actos. But that number could be just the tip of a medical iceberg.
There is no doubt that there are many more people with bladder cancer who simply have
not yet been diagnosed. Anyone who took Actos for more than one year is at risk, even if
they already stopped taking the medication. Based on this information, two European countries---France
and German---banned the use of Actos. However, in the United States, the FDA still allows
doctors to prescribe Actos. So… if you used to take or are currently
taking one of the Actos-containing medications, what should you do?
First, if you are currently taking one of these medications, we recommend that you see
your prescribing physician immediately. Talk about your concerns and discuss the possibility
of getting off the drug. Do NOT stop taking the medication without talking with your doctor;
because Actos affects the way your body reacts to insulin, stopping the drug without medical
advice could be dangerous to your health. Second, even if you are not currently taking
Actos or one of the other Actos-containing medications, see your doctor if you experience
any of the possible symptoms of bladder cancer. Symptoms to look for include a red or pink
color in the urine (which may indicate the presence of blood), an urgent need to urinate,
pain while urinating, or pain in your back or lower abdomen. These can also be signs
of other disorders, so there’s no reason to panic, but any one of these symptoms should
be enough to send you to the doctor’s office just to be sure that it’s not bladder cancer.
Finally, if you have already been diagnosed with bladder cancer, AND if you took Actos,
Actoplus Met, Actoplus Met XR or Duetact for a year or longer, we would like to speak with
you right away. You may have a legal case and be able to collect compensation. Call
us at 1-800-4-LAWMED, or visit our website at www.lawmed.com for an immediate evaluation
of your case. Again, this is David Henson of HensonFuerst.
Life doesn’t wait, and neither should you. Don’t hesitate to contact us. If you have
questions, HensonFuerst has answers.