Actos Lawsuits in Kansas City, MO
Brief Overview of Actos
In the early millennium, it was discovered that Avandia, generic name rosiglitazone, a popular antidiabetic drug was not nearly as safe as it was once assumed. In fact, studies began to link GlaxoSmithKline's drug to considerably dangerous side effects – such as heart failure, stroke and even the possibility of wrongful death. It was then that another drug on the market came into the national spotlight – that of Actos, generic name pioglitazone.
Similar to Avandia, this drug was placed onto the market in an efforts to treat Type II diabetes – and, for a short time, it was believed to truly be a safer alternative to treating the symptoms of diabetes and proved to be a top seller for Takeda Pharmaceuticals. In fact, amongst other pioglitazone-containing medications, these drugs have been prescribed to over two million diabetics throughout the nation. This, however, did not panned out as once hoped and the drug has increasingly found itself tied to adverse and even fatal side effects.
What are Actos' side effects?
In June of 2011, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a warning regarding the taking of Actos. The FDA noted that taking the drug in large doses over a significant amount of time could lead to adverse side effects that range from having blood in the urine to having severe headaches and sinus infections. Other related side effects noted by the FDA included the following:
- Lower back pain;
- Urinary tract infection;
- Frequent, painful urination;
- Weight gain; and
- Fluid retention
These, however, were not the worst of the side effects that were tied into the taking of the drug. In fact, some of these were merely a precursor to the worst of the side effects as, according to the FDA, the taking of Actos was linked to an increased risk for bladder cancer.
European Countries Look to Ban Sales of Actos
The warning released by the FDA made note of a recent study that was released by the French government. In this study, it was found that those who had taken the drug with a cumulative dosage of over 28,000 milligrams over a timeline of a year had a significant statistical increase in the risk for bladder cancer. Since then, both the French and the German government have made moves to restrict the use and sales of the drugs – waiting on the results of a European-wide study on the matter. Even the FDA has warned that physicians should avoid giving out prescriptions for this drug until the investigational review was fully completed.
Kansas City Injury Lawyer – Helping Pursue Actos Lawsuits
If you have recently been injured or made ill from taking Actos, it is important that you remember that you are not alone. This is not a simple matter to undertake, but it does not need to be an impossible one. By getting the involvement of an experienced Kansas City personal injury attorney, you will be able to move forward in pursuing an Actos lawsuit. All across the country, these lawsuits are being pursued – don't let yourself get lost in the cracks. Get the involvement of Wendt Goss today and you will be able to rest assured knowing that you will have a knowledgeable attorney on your side who is fully prepared to go the distance in their efforts to defend your legal rights and fight for maximum compensation.
To learn more about what can be done to defend your legal rights in an Actos lawsuit, please do not hesitate to contact a Kansas City personal injury lawyer from our firm today.