Why Is AARP Minimizing Actos Bladder Cancer Risk?

By John Curran

 

A recent article in AARP tackled a question many consumers are asking following reports of Actos bladder cancer risks and Actos heart failure risks: "Is Actos safe?" The doctor who answered the question in the "Ask a Pharmacist" column of the magazine said the benefits of Actos outweigh its risks. But is this good advice? Some medical experts and Actos lawsuit attorneys say no. Consumer Reports recently ran an advisory against Actos (generic: pioglitazone), a drug that’s used for diabetes blood sugar management, saying consumers should not take Actos or its generic version unless other treatment options have failed. A recent study argued that the FDA was too quick to approve the generic form of Actos in August 2012. The government agency itself said that there’s an increased risk for Actos bladder cancer complications and Actos congestive heart failure. One of the Takeda Pharmaceutical researchers involved in the testing of filed an Actos whistleblower lawsuit saying that she was told to suppress data on Actos congestive heart failure reports.

It would seem that there is a growing amount of damning data indicating that Actos is not safe, and that the Actos multidistrict legislation (MDL) could cause serious problems for manufacturer Takeda Pharmaceutical. Except if you’re a reader of AARP. The organization ran an article written by Doctor of Pharmacy Armon B. Neel that covered all of the risks and Actos heart failure side effects, yet he argues that the drug “works so well in older patients that, in my judgment, the benefits outweigh the possible risks for most people.”

Other drugs in the class also include so-called black-box labels that highlight the risks involved in taking them. These include Avandia and Avandamet (generic: metformin). Actos bladder cancer lawyers are likely to argue that the side effects of Actos are much more than the other medications. This is where Dr. Neel seems to miss the point. Actos is reported by most scientists to be dangerous to most patients, due to Actos bladder cancer risks.

In several Western countries, Actos is banned, including in England and Germany. Research in Canada noted that Actos bladder cancer risk was 22 percent higher than in other patients, adding to a growing body of research likely to be used by Actos lawsuit attorneys. In fact, Actos side effects like bladder cancer are two to three times more likely to occur than those of other similar classes of type 2 diabetes medications.

Considering that AARP serves 38 million Americans and many more visit the website, which is free to access, perhaps it should remind seniors and those considering Actos bladder cancer and Actos heart failure risks to consider a broader range of sources before making a decision on whether or not to use Actos.

If you’ve suffered side effects from Actos such as heart failure and bladder cancer, you may be able to find a legal remedy. Actos lawsuit attorneys available from Top Class Actions provide free consultations to those affected by Actos side effects, including you or your loved ones. Visit the Actos Bladder Cancer Class Action Lawsuit Investigation and fill out the simple form. We’ll put you in touch with a qualified Actos bladder cancer attorney who can review your case and help you choose the best course of action. Don’t wait while you or your loved one suffers. Fight back against Actos side effects and get your case reviewed today.

Updated August 7th, 2012

All medical device, dangerous drug and medical class action and lawsuit news updates are listed in the Drug and Medical Device section of Top Class Actions.

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