Prescribed along with a diet and exercise program, Avandia, also known as rosiglitazone, is prescribed to patients suffering from type 2 diabetes. The drug works by increasing the body’s sensitivity to insulin, which controls blood sugar levels. Research shows that this drug can cause dangerous, and sometimes fatal, side effects. British Medical Journal A new study of 810,000 people published by the British Medical Journal found that individuals taking Avandia are 23 percent more likely to suffer congestive heart failure than those taking other medications. The study also found that those taking Avandia were 16 percent more likely to die than those who were not taking the drug. Journal of American Medical Association To further demonstrate how dangerous Avandia can be, an article published in the Journal of American Medical Association discusses a study from Canada suggesting a significantly higher risk of heart attack in patients treated with Avandia. The Canadian researchers studied more than 159,000 patients, aged 65 or older, and found that those treated with Avandia were at an increased risk not only for heart attacks, but for stroke and heart failure as well. Food and Drug Administration These studies, combined with other research conducted throughout the world, have led a noted scientist at the Food and Drug Administration to recommend that the drug be pulled from the market. Dr. David Graham, who assisted in studies on Avandia, says the results are so alarming that he sees no justification to keep the widely used diabetes medication on the market, and recommends that it be discontinued. Dr. Grahamstates that “if you treated 60 people for a year with Avandia, you would cause an extra case of heart attack, stroke, heart failure or death.” If you have any questions about Avandia and how it has affected you, visit our website at FrenkelFirm.com and get the answers you need.
Back to Blog