Avandia Research Confirms Diabetes Drug Causes Heart Problems

The New England Journal of Medicine recently confirmed that people using the diabetes drug Avandia have a 43 percent increase in heart attacks over people not using Avandia.  If you review the research on Avandia, this should come as no surprise either to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or to Glaxo as animal studies done prior to its approval showed constant findings that Avandia caused damage to the heart of many animals.  Within the first six years of approval there have now been over 689 cases of heart failure reported to the FDA in patients using the drug. In addition, there have been reports of other health problems including strokes, anemia, and other heart problems.

More recently, there have been numerous reports of visual abnormalities in the form of macular edema (swelling of part of the retina) and increases in several kinds of fractures in women.  Despite prior knowledge of serious cardiac problems, the FDA has failed to require Glaxo to adequately warn about the dangers of this drug that should be, at best, a last-choice treatment for Type II diabetes. In addition to the accumulating evidence of the health risks of Avandia, many experts suggest that Avandia is not as effective as other diabetes drugs in controlling glucose by lowering blood sugar or hemoglobin A1C.

If you or someone you know have suffered a heart attack or serious heart damage and have been taking Avandia, please seek medical advice as soon as possible.  If you have any questions about Avandia, please call The Crosley Law Firm, P.C. at (210) 354-4500, complete the contact form or e-mail us for a no cost, no obligation consultation.