Actos Cardiac Injury Lawsuit

Actos Cardiac Injury, Stroke & heart failure – Injuries, Lawsuit. Using Actos to treat type 2 diabetes can cause serious Actos side effects that injure the heart, including:

• Congestive Heart Failure
• Heart Attack
• Stroke
• Cardiovascular Death

Victims of Actos heart attacks, congestive heart failure and other Actos side effects may be entitled to compensation for their pain and suffering.  The Actos injury lawyers at Parker Waichman LLP are offering free lawsuit evaluations to anyone who suffered Actos congestive heart failure, heart attack or stroke while using this type 2 diabetes drug.  To discuss an Actos cardiac injury lawsuit, please contact Parker Waichman LLP today.

Actos Congestive Heart Failure

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a condition in which the heart is unable to adequately pump oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body.  Roughly 670,000 people are diagnosed with heart failure each year. It is the leading cause of hospitalization in people older than 65.

In 2002, a “black box warning” – the U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA) strongest safety alert – was added to the label of Actos warning “that it may increase congestive heart failure in patients with pre-existing heart conditions.”  A study done in 2003 by the Mayo Clinic definitively linked Actos to swelling in the feet, lung fluid retention, shortness of breath and congestive heart failure.  Another study which was reported in the American Heart Association Journal in August, 2010, associated Actos with an increased risk of death due to congestive heart failure.

Actos users who experience any of the following symptoms should contact their doctor immediately, as they may be warning signs of Actos congestive heart failure:

• Shortness of breath during exertion or while lying down
• Fatigue and weakness
• Swelling in the legs, ankles and feet
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat
• Reduced ability to exercise
• Persistent cough or wheezing with white or pink blood-tinged phlegm
• Swelling of the abdomen
• Sudden weight gain from fluid retention
• Lack of appetite and nausea
• Difficulty concentrating or decreased alertness

Actos Heart Attacks and Strokes

Thiazolidinediones like Avandia have been associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.  In 2010, the FDA placed restrictions on Avandia, another thiazolidinedione, because of its association with heart attacks.  However, no such action was taken with Actos, even though some studies have pointed to a similar risk.    For example, a study published in the British Medical Journal in August 2009 reported that while Actos was associated with a lower rate of heart failure compared to Avandia, no significant difference was found between Actos and Avandia when it came to a risk of heart attacks.

An Actos whistleblower lawsuit filed by Dr. Helen Ge, a former medical reviewer for Takeda Pharmaceuticals, has alleged that that the company downplayed her concerns regarding Actos heart attack  cases and that Takeda failed to properly report adverse events, including those for Actos heart attack, to the FDA as required.  Ge has alleged that Takeda was motivated by a desire to have Actos appear to be a safer alternative to Avandia.

Symptoms of an Actos heart attack may include:

• Abnormal or irregular heart beat
• Anxiety
• Chest pain
• Feelings of nervousness
• Lightheadedness
• Loss of consciousness
• Nausea
• Pain in the neck, shoulders or arms
• Shortness of breath
• Sweating

Need Legal Help Regarding Actos Cardiac Injury?

The personal injury attorneys at Parker Waichman LLP offer free, no-obligation case evaluations. For more information, fill out our online contact form or call 1-800-YOURLAWYER (1-800-968-7529).

Our Actos litigation lawyers are here to help you when you need it the most.