Actos® (pioglitazone) is a prescription medicine used with diet and exercise to treat type 2 diabetes. Sometimes it is used in conjunction with other medications to treat diabetes.

Actos® Side Effects

The Medication Guide for Actos® lists the following as possible side effects of the drug:

• Heart failure
• Bladder cancer
• Liver problems
• Bone fractures
• Low blood sugar
• Macular edema (diabetic eye disease with swelling in the back of the eye)
• Ovulation in a woman that could lead to pregnancy

More common, less serious side effects include:

• Respiratory infection (cold symptoms)
• Headache
• Sinus infection
• Muscle pain
• Sore throat

Bladder Cancer

Actos® has been linked to an increase in the risk of bladder cancer in some patients. If you are being treated for bladder cancer, you should not take Actos®. You should contact your doctor immediately if you have any of the following indications of bladder cancer:

• Blood in the urine or urine that is red
• An increased need to urinate
• Pain during urination

Heart Side Effects

Taking Actos® or other similar medications may cause or worsen congestive heart failure. This is a condition in which the heart has difficulty pumping blood around your body. If you are taking Actos® and experience the following signs of heart failure, you should contact your doctor right away:

• A lot of weight gain in a short time
• Difficulty breathing
• Swelling in the arms, hands, lower legs, feet, or ankles
• Swelling or pain in the stomach
• Waking up out of breath at night
• Having to raise your head to breathe more easily using extra pillows when sleeping
• Frequent dry cough or wheezing
• Problem thinking clearly or confusion
• Increased tiredness
• Fast or racing heart beat
• Having trouble exercising as well as before

A black box warning in the medication guide states before you begin to take Actos®, you should tell your doctor if you have ever had congestive heart failure, in particular if the condition is so serious that you need to restrict your activity and are only comfortable sitting in a chair or staying in bed.

You also need to tell your doctor if you were born with a heart defect, had any of the signs of heart failure mentioned above, had high cholesterol, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, a heart attack, an irregular heartbeat or sleep apnea. Your doctor may not want to prescribe Actos® if you have had any of these conditions.

Contact an Actos® Attorney

If you were diagnosed with new or worsened heart failure, bladder cancer, or another serious side effect after taking Actos®, you may be eligible to pursue damages for your injuries. To find out if you qualify for financial compensation, contact our defective drug lawyers today.