What is Actos?
Actos is a widely-used medication for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. Actos works by helping to regulate blood sugar levels, making your body more insulin-sensitive. Doctors frequently recommend taking Actos in conjunction with a sensible diet and regular exercise for those who have the type of diabetes which does not necessitate taking insulin. Actos is typically used on its own or together with other drugs such as metformin. It can be used together with insulin when the disease is not being controlled sufficiently with only Actos.
Actos was marketed over a decade ago, quickly becoming one of the most widely-used prescription drug for those with Type 2 diabetes. Unfortunately, even though Actos was FDA approved, there have been many cases in which the drug is believed to have caused bladder cancer as well as other serious diseases, especially in those taking it for periods longer than twelve to eighteen months.
Your Right to Recovery
Those who took Actos as prescribed by their physician, and were negatively affected by its side effects are entitled to file a lawsuit for compensation of their medical issues. Although the drug has been prescribed freely since 1999, merely a few short months ago the FDA cautioned there could exist potentially severe side effects in those taking Actos for longer than twelve months, most especially the risk of developing bladder cancer.
Recent studies done on a group of nearly 200,000 users of Actos found a nearly 40% increased risk of developing bladder cancer in those who had been using the drug to control their Type 2 diabetes for an extended period of time. Germany and France have both taken steps to prohibit the use of Actos pending further research, however the United States FDA has allowed doctors to continue to prescribe Actos until the results of further studies are known.
Your Legal Options
In order to potentially recover compensation for health problems you believe were a direct result of taking Actos, it is necessary to seek the advice of an attorney who has specific experience with Actos-related claims. Experience counts for everything in a situation like this, as your attorney must be highly knowledgeable about the drug, its history and potential side effects. Once you hire an attorney, it will be their job to examine your claim for its potential recovery, filing legal action on behalf of patients who were given a diagnosis of bladder cancer after taking Actos.
Why Hire an Actos Attorney?
This type of cancer affects as many as 70,000 people each year in America alone. While the disease generally has a favorable survival rate, the treatments can include years of serious and expensive treatments including chemotherapy and radiation. You and your loved ones need not be burdened financially or emotionally because of a huge corporation’s disregard for human health. Remember that only a reputable attorney who has extensive background on the specific facts surrounding Actos can accurately assess your case and advise you of any time constraints you may face in filing your claim as well as how much that claim could potentially be worth.
Once you have made the determination to hire an attorney for your Actos lawsuit, you will speak to a member of a legal team who will review information about your specific claim and determine your eligibility for pursuing a lawsuit. Your questions and concerns will be fully addressed by the legal team you choose to represent you. Your legal firm will likely choose to handle your Actos case under a contingency fee, meaning you never have to pay expenses or fees out of pocket in order for you to move forward with your claim. Contingency fees allow you to obtain the most highly qualified representation with no added expense on your part.
Choosing an Actos Attorney
Choosing the best law firm for your particular situation can be difficult under average circumstances, but when you or a loved one has been injured due to another’s negligence, the attorney you choose becomes even more critical. You may want to contact the American Bar Association for a comprehensive list of qualified lawyers in your area, or speak with friends or relatives who have had some prior experience with a personal injury attorney. Remember, however, that filing a lawsuit against a giant drug company requires special experience far beyond the “typical” personal injury case. Research your potential law firm carefully to determine whether they have the requisite experience and are ready to put it to work on your behalf. Will they offer compassion regarding your medical problems while fighting aggressively for you and your family? Equally importantly, will the legal firm you choose offer realistic expectations regarding the amount of money you may be entitled to collect?
If you believe the drug Actos has directly caused your serious medical issues, it is imperative that a qualified attorney sit down with you and explain how this huge pharmaceutical company may have been aware of the ill-effects of Actos yet kept selling it, putting billions of dollars per year in their pockets and damaging your health in the process. Lawsuits which target drug injuries are extremely complicated, requiring attorneys who have far-reaching legal experience who will conduct a comprehensive investigation into health histories and records. The firm must also be able to obtain crucial testimony by qualified physicians and must have the necessary resources to take on such a large drug company. It is important that you choose an attorney who has already begun reviewing Actos bladder cancer lawsuits as well as class action claims against the manufacturer of Actos.
You need an attorney who will listen to your questions and concerns, giving you the respect you deserve while working tirelessly on your behalf, as well as a well-respected law firm with impeccable references and the necessary background to take on your Actos case. For a complete and experienced assessment of your case contact a qualified law firm today.