New Evidence Uncovered Signaling Actos Side Effects

Bologna, ItalyA recent review of adverse event reports related to drug reactions appears to illustrate even more signs that Actos side effects can include the development of bladder cancer, Reuters reports.

According to the news source, more than 500,000 adverse reactions to anti-diabetic drugs were put into a US Food and Drug Administration database between 2004 and 2009, with 138 of those cases involving bladder cancer in patients taking one of a number of anti-diabetic medications.

While this number may seem relatively low, the news source reports that more than one-fifth of such bladder cancer cases involved Actos, indicating a potential "disproportionate risk" for the medication in relation to other similar drugs, the researchers said.

Study author Dr. Elisabetta Poluzzi of Italy's University of Bologna said that while there seems to be a disproportionate amount of risk for Actos as compared to other anti-diabetic drugs, more research is needed to truly confirm the risk of bladder cancer in patients taking the medication.

While additional research will undoubtedly shed more light on the matter, however, the latest review is not the first time that Actos has been linked to the cancer. In fact, the drug's prescribing information includes the fact that it could potentially increase the risk of cancer, according to the news source.

Additionally, the FDA undertook a safety review of Actos last year after the results of an extended study conducted by manufacturer Takeda Pharmaceutical Company showed that the risk of bladder cancer increased in patients who had been taking the medication for the longest period of time, according to the news source.

Actos is also part of the same class of drugs as GlaxoSmithKline's Avandia, which has been linked to problematic side effects associated with the heart. Recently, the FDA announced that it plans to remove Avandia from pharmacy shelves in November.

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), Actos, which is occasionally used with other medications to treat type 2 diabetes, is a tablet that helps control blood sugar levels.

Some potentially less serious side effects of the medication can include confusion, extreme thirst or hunger, blurred vision and shortness of breath, according to the NCBI.