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Patients Taking Avandia Say It's Not Worth The Risk
Atlanta, GA: Patients who have stopped taking [Avandia] because of the drug's side effects say that benefits of Avandia do not outweigh its risks. These patients have suffered serious side effects including heart attacks, heart failure, edema and increased blood pressure. They are now realizing that there are safer drugs that are just as effective as Avandia, if not more so, and are also less expensive.
Despite advisories to pull Avandia from the market, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has only requested a black box warning for the drug. In fact, one of the FDA's own top safety scientists presented evidence that Avandia does not offer any major health benefits but could cause thousands of adverse events. In spite of that, the FDA has so far refused to pull Avandia off store shelves, believing instead that the drug's benefits far outweigh the risks.
 Study after study has shown that Avandia increases the risk of heart attack and heart failure, in some cases by as much as 42 percent. Researchers in the most recent study said that regulators should seriously consider pulling Avandia from the market. Furthermore, doctors are now questioning Avandia's safety.
Avandia was approved in 1999 to treat type 2 diabetes. Since that time, the FDA has monitored heart-related adverse events because controlled clinical trials of Avandia showed there was a possibility of such events occurring in patients who take the drug. Avandia's label has been changed to warn patients about the risks associated with taking the drug but no further action has been taken so far.
Lawsuits have been filed against GlaxoSmithKline, maker of Avandia, alleging the company did not warn patients about the increased risk of heart-related death. The lawsuits claim that GSK performed its own meta-analysis (in which the results of several separate clinical trials are analyzed together) and knew about the increased risk of heart attacks. Some plaintiffs have also filed wrongful death lawsuits in cases where a loved one died from heart problems after taking Avandia.
Along with heart attacks and heart-related deaths, patients who take Avandia are at an increased risk of heart failure and edema. Heart failure occurs when the heart is not able to efficiently pump enough blood throughout the body and can be fatal. Edema is an accumulation of fluid in the patient's body. In patients taking Avandia, edema is most often seen in the legs and ankles. Edema is associated with heart failure.
More studies about the risks of Avandia are being performed, including one involving Humana Health Services (a health care company) and researchers from the University of Miami. The study is called Pharmacovigilance Initiative and it will investigate many different drugs, including Avandia, by analyzing the reports of adverse drug events from Humana's database. The Initiative will focus on prescription drug safety, including detecting and understanding adverse drug events. The study involves analyzing 41,000 diabetics including those who use Avandia.
Patients who have suffered adverse reactions to Avandia should seek medical attention as soon as possible. Those who are concerned about taking Avandia should speak with their doctors about their options. Some doctors have already advised their patients to switch medications, while others have stopped putting new patients on Avandia. However, no one should stop taking medication without talking to a doctor first.
Avandia Legal Help If you or a family member have used Avandia and have suffered heart attack or liver damage 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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