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Doctor Warns Patient off Avandia
Woodbridge, VA: Karen Morales was on Avandia for less than a year, but her doctor believes that even in that short time the drug has caused heart problems that might be permanent.
In February 2007, Morales was put on 4 mgs of Avandia. However, her blood sugar remained out of control and 4 mgs of Avandia was not helping so her dosage was increased to 8 mgs in April. Since then, Morales has been in and out of the hospital with severe chest pains. She says that prior to being given Avandia she never had any heart problems.
"If I had known that Avandia could cause heart problems I never would have taken it," Morales says. "It was so bad that my lips were turning blue because of a lack of oxygen. I have been to the hospital a few times. In October I went to the ER and there they diagnosed me with a heart murmur. The murmur was so bad they could hear it in my neck. I have never had a heart murmur before."
 Just two weeks ago, Morales saw a different doctor. "The new doctor took me off the Avandia right away," Morales says. "She says that she thinks Avandia has caused all my heart problems."
Although Morales has been taken off Avandia, she says she still has constant chest pains. Currently, she and the doctor do not know if the murmur is permanent or if it will go away once the Avandia is out of her system. Morales also wants to talk to her doctor about the risk of osteoporosis.
"When I go back to see her on December 26, I want to talk to her about the deterioration of my back," Morales says. "I have pain in my tail bone. I didn't know that Avandia can cause osteoporosis. In October, when I was in the ER, my sister begged me to go off Avandia. She kept saying, 'You need to stop it.' But I didn't know that Avandia was causing so many problems for people."
Morales says that taking Avandia was not worth the pain she experienced because it actually did not control her sugar levels. Her heart problems have had a drastic impact on her life, as well. "I'm out of breath from chest pains a lot," Morales says. "I had to fight for custody of my three-year-old granddaughter because social services did not think I was well enough to take care of her. My heart starts racing at night in bed when I'm not moving and I don't run around like I used to. Sometimes, my lips turn blue. I'm scared to do anything because I'm afraid I'm going to have a heart attack. Life has changed a lot because of these health problems."
Morales has many concerns about her heart, concerns that no 43-year-old woman should have. "I just think, what if I were still taking this medicine?" Morales says. "I might have died. I have a grandchild that I want to see grow up and a 16-year-old son that I want to see get married. I feel sorry for the families that have already lost people. They need to take Avandia off the market."
Avandia Legal Help If you or a family member have used Avandia and have suffered heart attack, liver damage, or osteoporosis after taking Avandia, please contact a lawyer involved in a possible [Avandia Lawsuit] who will review your case at no cost or obligation.
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