FDA Drug Safety Communication

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FDA Date: 8/4/11

Pioglitazone-Containing Medicines FDA Drug Safety Communication

Updated Drug Labels for Pioglitazone-Containing Medicines

FDA is informing the public that the Agency has approved updated drug labels for the pioglitazone-containing medicines to include safety information that the use of pioglitazone for more than 1 year may be associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer. FDA previously communicated these labeling changes to the public on June 15, 2011.

The updated drug labels recommend that healthcare professionals should:

- Not use pioglitazone in patients with active bladder cancer.

- Use pioglitazone with caution in patients with a prior history of bladder cancer.

The updated drug labels recommend that patients should:

Contact their healthcare professional if they experience any sign of blood in the urine or a red color in the urine or other symptoms such as new or worsening urinary urgency or pain on urination since starting pioglitazone, as these may be due to bladder cancer.

View the full FDA Drug Safety Communication on FDA.gov