One of the most important questions to ask before you begin taking a prescription drug is, what are the possible side effects? Knowing a drug’s common side effects as well as a drug’s more rare but more serious side effects will allow you to better watch for symptoms as you begin to take the medicine. However, note that some side effects will not appear until you have taken the drug over an extended period of time.
Actos, also known as Pioglitazone, is a popular drug used to treat Type 2 Diabetes along side a proper diet and exercise program. Below, we’ve listed some of the drug’s side effects: Fluid retention Headache Edema (swelling) Weight gain Dyspnea (shortness of breath) Upper respiratory infection Vision issues Tooth disorders Sinusitis and sinus infections Muscle pain Pharyngitis (throat pain and swelling) Dilutional anemia Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) Liver Damage Fractures Can cause or exacerbate congestive heart failure May cause or increase risk of bladder cancer
While some of these side effects, such as headache and sore throat, may tolerable considering the benefits of the drug, other side effects may have extremely serious consequences, such as bone fractures in women, liver damage, swelling, and anemia.
Two of the drug’s side effects, congestive heart failure (CHF) and bladder cancer, are extremely serious and have resulted in black-box warnings required by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) after extensive studies. Patients with existing heart problems are most at risk for experiencing congestive heart failure while taking Actos. Patients who have taken Actos for the longest amount of time are most at risk for being diagnosed with bladder cancer.
If you or a loved one have suffered harm because of a side effect of Actos, it is important that you speak with an experienced Indiana defective drug lawyer about the details of your case. Investigating your defective drug experience could lead to compensation and prevent others from suffering from similar experiences in the future. Call Keller & Keller LLP today at 800.253.5537 today.