Actos Lawsuits

What is Actos?

Actos is a prescription medication used to treat adults with type 2 diabetes. With diet and exercise, Actos can be used to successfully treat this type of diabetes and improve glucose control. However, it may have severe side effects as well and should not be used to treat young adults or children. Actos attempts to solve two common problems associated with type 2 diabetes. First, it helps the consumer's body use insulin effectively. Secondly, the keeps the consumer's liver from producing excess sugar. When both of these problems are treated, the individual's blood sugar levels decrease.

Dangerous Side Effects

Although Actos can be an effective way to treat type 2 diabetes, it may leave consumers dealing with severe side effects as well. During clinical trials, approximately 10,000 patients with type 2 diabetes were treated with Actos. Unfortunately, users suffered a wide range of adverse side effects, including headaches, sore throats and other problems.

Common side effects include upper respiratory infection, headache, sinus infection, chest pains, shortness of breath, general illness, muscle pain, sore throat, allergic reaction, breathing problems, fever, chills, fatigue, weight gain, hypoglycemia and low blood sugar. These side effects are relatively common but not life-threatening. Unfortunately, Actos has been connected to more serious conditions as well.

For instance, clinical studies indicated that the medication may lead to bladder cancer, heart failure, macular edema, hepatic failure and bone fractures. Bladder cancer is one of the most severe and dangerous side effects of the drug. Although drug-induced tumors are not common, they can be life-threatening. Additionally, Actos is required to carry a black box warning indicating that it may lead to heart failure. Generally speaking, Actos may – over a long period of time – keep the individual's heart from pumping blood properly.

This condition can eventually lead to severe heart problems or heart failure. The term "macular edema" refers to a diabetic condition that involves swelling in the back of the eye. Macular edema may result in blurry vision and impaired eyesight. Patients taking Actos should immediately report vision problems to their doctor.

St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyer

If you or a loved one has suffered because of Actos, a personal injury attorney from our firm can help. At the firm, we believe that irresponsible companies, individuals and businesses should be held responsible for the pain and suffering that they cause. That's why we're committed to helping victims of negligence recover the financial compensation they need and deserve.

Contact the firm today to see what a top-notch attorney can do for you. With a lawyer from Meyerkord & Kurth on your side, you rest assured that your case is in good hands.