Actos / Pioglitazone Hydrochloride
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Actos, also known as Pioglitazone Hydrochloride, in 1997 to treat Type II diabetes. The medication helps the body effectively use insulin. Actos is used as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve sugar control. A member of the thiazolidinedione class of drugs, Actos helps reduce insulin resistance, a major problem associated with Type II diabetes.
Diabetes affects millions of Americans and can cause damage to the eyes, kidneys, heart and peripheral circulation. Type II diabetes usually starts in adulthood and is commonly associated with obesity. Ninety percent of all people with Type II diabetes in the United States are overweight.
Side effects of Actos include, but may not be limited to, headache, upper respiratory tract infections, muscle pain, sore throat and tooth disorder.
In March 2002, a forty-nine-year-old diabetic man suffered serious liver injuries after taking Actos for six months. An analysis of the patient's hepatic tissue revealed symptoms of drug toxicity. In a report published in the March 19 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers stated it was "highly probable" that Actos is associated with drug-induced hepatitis.
Another drug of the thiazolidinedione class, Rezulin (troglitazone, manufactured by Parke-Davis), has been associated with idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity, or liver failure. Because of the liver toxicity associated with Rezulin, the FDA recommends Actos users follow a strict liver enzyme-monitoring schedule.
Symptoms suggesting liver problems include, but may not be limited to, unexplained nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fatigue, anorexia, dark urine, or jaundice. If these or other symptoms occur, see your doctor and insist upon liver enzyme testing.
Illinois-based Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd., manufactures Actos. Eli Lilly and Company co-promotes the drug in the United States.
In September 2003, doctors at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas confirmed reports of heart problems in patients taking Actos. According to the researchers' data, Actos and Avandia may cause heart failure and a buildup of fluid in the lungs.
See your doctor if you have experienced serious side effects associated with Actos. In addition, it may be important to contact an attorney who can help you protect your legal rights. Please keep in mind that there may be time limits within which you must commence suit.
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-- Article Courtesy of InjuryBoard.com
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