Popular Diabetes Drug Linked to Increased Risk of Bladder Cancer

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According to the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org) more than 73,000 people will be diagnosed with bladder cancer in the United States this year, and over 14,000 will die from the disease.

Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) June 16, 2012

BMJ (http://www.bmj.com/content/344/bmj.e3645) recently published a study that determined that there is an increased risk of bladder cancer in those taking the commonly prescribed, type 2 diabetes drug Actos. The popular pill, manufactured by Takeda Pharmaceuticals, is widely prescribed in the United States for diabetes treatment and previously carried a warning regarding bladder cancer risk. This latest study further confirms this risk.

Actos has been under scrutiny for several years, and the Food & Drug Administration issued a June, 2011, warning that patients who used Actos for more than 12 months had a potential, increased risk for developing bladder cancer. France and Germany subsequently pulled the drug completely from the market to avoid putting their populations at risk. The BMJ study analyzed the records of more than 115,000 patients. The findings indicate the group at greatest risk for bladder cancer among Actos users is in those who use the drug for more than 24 months or ingest more that 28,000 mg in total.

According to the American Cancer Society (http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/BladderCancer/DetailedGuide/bladder-cancer-key-statistics) more than 73,000 people will be diagnosed with bladder cancer in the United States this year, and over 14,000 will die from the disease. Doctors and their patients should carefully weigh the risks and benefits when considering using the drug.

If you or someone you know has sought treatment for type 2 diabetes and were prescribed Actos, it is important to have all the facts. You must be aware of potential injuries and side affects and how to obtain compensation if necessary.

We encourage you to contact the personal injury lawyers at Goldberg & Osborne today if you took Actos and were later diagnosed with bladder cancer. Simply call 1-800-THE-EAGLE (1-800-843-3245) or fill out the online case form on our website for your free, no obligation evaluation.

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