Every day, people are injured by side effects of dangerous drugs. Defective drugs can lead to significant health risks including serious injury, disabilities and hospitalization. Although drugs are often recalled due to drug side effects, some pharmaceutical companies rush a product to market and aggressively promote the drug by persuading consumers to ask for the drug and convincing physicians to prescribe it. This video is about Pioglizatone (Actos), a prescription drug of the thiazolidinedione (TZD) class with hypoglycemic (antidiabetic, antihyperglycemic) action to treat diabetes. In 2008 it was the 10th best selling drug in the U.S. with sales exceeding $2.8 billion. Actos was firstly approved by the FDA in 1999 to treat patients with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. On 13th of October 2000 it is approved by the European Medicines Agency to treat type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. In 2002 Actos was found to increase the risk of congestive heart failure. In 2006 it was proved that Actos users risk to develop bladder-cancer. In 2008-2009 is revealed that Actos doubles the risk of fractures in post-menopausal women and more that doubles the risk of an eye disorder. In 2011 Actos is banned in France and Germany after French Medicines Agency finds a bladder cancer side effect from the use of Actos. Later in that year the FDA states that Actos increases the risk of bladder cancer by 40% for patients who take the drug longer than 12 months and in August 2011 the first bladder cancer lawsuit are filled. In 2013 pioglitazone (the active ingredient in Actos) is classified as probably cancirogenic to humans. Patients who use Actos risk to receive congestive heart failure, broken bones, severe liver problems, prostate cancer and bladder cancer. In the case of patient's death, the family of the victim may file a wrongful death action and seek damages. Thousands of Americans are hurt every year due to the adverse effects of prescription and over-the-counter drugs. If you or a loved one has been injured by a harmful drug, contact an attorney to find out how protect yourself.
