The Key Ingredient in Actos
Service No Comments »Actos is a drug used to control blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Out of the 16 million diabetics in the USA, only approximately 5% to10% are insulin dependent, according to the FDA. The rest have type 2 diabetes, and control their disease with oral medications used in conjunction with diet, exercise, and insulin (produced in their bodies.) Actos is one of these, prescribed to attack insulin resistance, which means that it helps the body’s increasing inability to process insulin.
All details provided for informational purposes only, contact experienced Actos lawyers for additional details.
Actos is made by Takeda Pharmeuceuticals. The active ingredient is pioglitazone hydrochloride. It is in the fourth class of drugs called Thiazolidinedione (medical name), better known as glitazone. This class of drugs helps the body use insulin more effectively, rather than making the body produce more insulin. According to netdoctor, pioglitazone increases the sensitivity of the liver, fat, and muscles, to insulin.
The bad news is that effective June 12, 2011, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) claims that the use of Actos for more than one year may cause bladder cancer. It is not merely the use of Actos, but the long exposure and high dosages that have proven, through clinical studies, to be a huge risk factor for bladder cancer. All future labels and medication guides will reflect this notice.
Blood sugar levels are often reduced in two weeks. However, Actos has been prescribed for patients of type 2 diabetes for prolonged periods of time, with no termination date. Therefore, it is imperative that people take notice of these warnings for bladder cancer, especially when it comes from the FDA.
Goldberg & Osborne, a personal injury law firm, has provided this article for informational purposes only, written by an independent author, and has not reviewed or edited this article and is not responsible for its content or accuracy.