Actos Lawsuit | Actos Bladder Cancer

Actos vs. Avandia: Side Effects Litigation

Staff Writer | January 20th, 2012

Though Avandia and Actos are both used to treat type II diabetes, the side effects most frequently cited by plaintiffs, including Actos bladder cancer, are different than those that have been associated with Avandia.

However, a recent study now links Actos to heart failure, which was previously believed to be more likely in Avandia patients. To date, however, Actos bladder cancer is the most commonly cited side effect in Actos lawsuit complaints.

Avandia side effects vs. Actos side effects

Avandia and Actos are in a class of drugs referred to as thiazolidinediones (TZDs). TZDs reduce body tissue insulin resistance, thereby helping diabetics maintain healthy blood sugar levels.

TZDs share similar side effects including water retention, heart failure, weight gain and hypoglycemia. However, some TZDs have been linked to their own distinct side effects.

While Actos side effects include several common TZD side effects, Actos bladder cancer is a unique side effect, and has formed the basis of numerous Actos lawsuit complaints. According to the FDA, the risk of developing Actos bladder cancer increases significantly in individuals who take the medication for more than 12 months.

Avandia, on the other hand, has been more closely associated with heart attack. In 2007, a study found that Avandia increased a person’s risk of heart attack by 43 percent. This information caused several physicians to start recommending Actos instead of Avandia.

In 2010, a study on Actos side effects published by the American Heart Association journal, Circulation, prompted physicians to take another look at Actos as an alternative to Avandia.

According to the study, patients taking Actos are just as likely to experience heart problems as those taking Avandia. Of the 36,000 individuals who participated in the study — some taking Actos, some taking Avandia — four percent in each group experienced heart failure, heart attacks or death. This could impact the number of Actos side effects lawsuits filed in the future.

Actos lawsuit plaintiffs seek damages for Actos bladder cancer

Individuals who file an Avandia lawsuit frequently seek compensation for damages related to heart attack, while individuals who file an Actos lawsuit frequently seek damages related to Actos bladder cancer.

While the reasons for filing the lawsuits tend to fluctuate, the circumstances surrounding the litigation are somewhat similar. Generally, those filing either an Actos lawsuit or an Avandia lawsuit claim drug manufacturers failed to warn them of the risks associated with the medications.

In light of the new study, it’s likely that the courts will hear more cases about Actos heart attack than in previous years.