Avandia - Type 2 Diabetes Drug - ALERT
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An alert was sounded on May 21, 2007 by the New England Journal of Medicine on the Type 2 Diabetes Drug -Avandia. Avandia is a pill widely prescribed by doctors to treat type 2 diabetes. It is now believed that this drug can actually increase the users' risk for a heart attack by 43% percent and increase the chance of death. This major medical conclusion and a formal report on the drug Avandia (generic name rosiglitazone) will appear in the June 14, 2007 Issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. An early release of the findings and conclusions of this report were issued May 21, 2007 by the New England Journal's Editors due to their overall concern with public safety and the public health importance of releasing this information as soon as possible. A 43% increase in risk of a heart attack is a major concern to all involved. The Journal also suggests that barring any new data to the contrary, the U.S. FDA should take regulatory action to restrict access to Avandia, which is made by GlaxoSmithKline Corporation.
IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE HAS TAKEN AVANDIA AND HAVE SUFFERED A HEART ATTACK CALL OUR LAW FIRM NOW AT 1-800-862-1260.
More than 2 million people worldwide now take Avandia for type 2 diabetes. This drug alone generates over $3.2 billion in annual sales for the GlaxoSmithKline. Avandia was first approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in 1999.
According to the Journal, this new study evaluated 42 studies that compared patients taking Avandia with patients not using the drug. The studies included almost 28,000 patients, 15,560 of whom were taking Avandia. They found that the risk of a heart attack was increased 43% among those taking Avandia, and there was a 64% increased risk of dying from cardiovascular causes, compared with patients not taking the drug. Among patients taking Avandia, 86 had heart attacks compared with 72 among patients not on the drug. In addition, 39 patients taking Avandia died from cardiovascular causes compared with 22 patients not receiving the drug. The drug Rosiglitazone was associated with a significant increase in the risk of myocardial infarction [heart attack] and with an increase in the risk of death from cardiovascular causes that had borderline significance, the report indicates. Until more precise estimates of cardiovascular risk of this treatment can be delineated in patients with diabetes, patients and providers should discuss with their doctor this report and carefully consider the potential risks.
IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE HAS TAKEN AVANDIA AND HAVE SUFFERED A HEART ATTACK CALL OUR LAW FIRM DAY OR NIGHT, WE CAN HELP. CALL OUR LAW FIRM TOLL FREE AT 1-800-862-1260.