Recently, attorneys have begun filing Iowa Actos lawsuits. First introduced in the U.S. in 1992, Actos was intended to help type 2 diabetes patients better manage their condition. The drug, manufactured and marketed by Takeda Pharmaceuticals, was designed to help patients be more sensitive to the insulin produced in the pancreas. However, while Actos has helped thousands of type 2 diabetes patients, others have allegedly suffered from heart and bladder failure, bladder cancer, bone fractures, and blindness as a result of the drug. According to reports, both the medical community and the public were unaware of these potential dangers until thousands of patients had received an Actos prescription.
Is Actos Safe?
According to patients, Actos and other thiazolidinedione medications may cause adema, liver complications, heart problems, and anemia. Several medications other than Actos have been recalled or restricted due to the alleged severe and life-threatening side effects of the drugs. Additionally, several medical records have asserted that Actos should only be prescribed to patients when other options have not worked. One study analyzed 10,000 Actos patients and concluded that bladder cancer and heart failure were common complications. Whether a patient begins the drug for the first time, stops taking the medication, or increases his or her dosage, side effects or complications of Actos may worsen. Additionally, the medical community reports that several patient-specific factors may affect the severity and type of side effects that a patient may experience, including gender, race, health condition, and ethnicity. In addition to bladder and heart cancer, some of the most common side effects are:
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Fever, chills
- Diarrhea
- Feeling ill
- Muscle, limb, or tooth pain
- Low blood sugar
- Upper respiratory infection
- Urinary tract infections
Although serious Actos side effects are not common, you may be eligible to file a Iowa Actos lawsuit if you suffered from lactic acidosis, congestive heart failure or bone fractures, or if you were diagnosed with bladder cancer either during or immediately following your Actos treatment. Attorney Group for Iowa can help determine if you have an Iowa Actos lawsuit and whether you are entitled to recover damages for your condition.
Actos Lawsuits in Progress
Most recently, a federal judge ruled in June 2014 that the manufacturer intentionally and knowingly destroyed information relevant to a bladder cancer lawsuit that resulted in a $9 billion jury award. According to the judge, Takeda did not uphold its duty to preserve specific documents related to the lawsuit and stated that the lack of that evidence was detrimental to the plaintiffs’ case. Court documents indicate that this case is one of more than 3,000 claims pending in the Western District of Louisiana. In April 2014, plaintiffs received awards for $6 million in punitive damages and $3 million in compensatory damages. All claims accuse Takeda of concealing the risk of bladder cancer for patients taking Actos for an extended period of time.
Do You Have an Iowa Actos Lawsuit?
Contact Attorney Group for Iowa today if you or a loved one took Actos to treat your type 2 diabetes and developed heart cancer, bladder cancer, or other complications. Depending on the circumstances surrounding your diagnosis, you may be eligible to file an Iowa Actos lawsuit and seek compensation for your injuries. We can help to answer your questions and provide you with a free case evaluation. Should we determine that you are eligible to file an Iowa Actos lawsuit, we can connect you with an affiliated attorney able to file your Iowa Actos lawsuit and work to help you seek the compensation to which you may be entitled.
