Avandia Heart Attack Risks and Side Effects

On July 14, 2010 following a two day intensive scientific investigation, a federal medical advisory panel recommended that Avandia - a controversial Type 2 diabetes drug – should either have sales restricted and additional label warnings added or be completely withdrawn from the market because Avandia may increase the risks of heart attacks.

Senate Report Claims Drug Maker Knew of Heart Attack Risks:
A Feb 20, 2010 Senate report claims GlaxoSmithKline knew of the serious heart attack risks associated with the diabetes drug Avandia but, kept them from the public. It also accuses the FDA of shirking its responsibility to the public. Avandia is taken by over a million Americans with type 2 diabetes to help control their blood sugar levels. Manufactured and marketed by GlaxoSmithKline, Avandia was approved by the FDA in 1999.

Background:
A 2007 study published in the New Engalnd Journal of Medicine found that patients using Avandia had a 43 percent increased risk of heart attack. The study also found that people taking Avandia may be at a higher risk of dying from cardiovascular problems by as much as 64 percent. The study included about 28,000 patients, 15,560 of them were taking Avandia. After learning the results of the study, the FDA issued a safety alert urging type 2 diabetics taking Avandia to see their doctors.

The FDA has also requested that GlaxoSmithKline add a black box warning to Avandia's label. This type of warning appears on prescription drugs that may cause serious side effects. The black box warning for Avandia would alert patients of the risk of congestive heart failure as a result of using this drug.

Heath Risks and Symptoms:

• Higher risk of heart attack
• Higher risk of heart-related deaths
• Liver problems
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Anemia
• Fainting/loss of consciousness

Additional Information:

• 2.20.10: Senate report links diabetes drug Avandia to heart attacks
• 7.30.07: Diabetes Drug Avandia Should Be Removed From the Market, Public Citizen Tells FDA Advisory Committee, citizen.org
• 5.21.07: FDA Issues Safety Alert on Avandia, fda.gov
• New Safety Information on Diabetes Drug Rosiglitazone

If you have experienced any serious side effects associated with your use of Avandia, you are urged to seek medical attention. It may also be important to contact an attorney who can help you protect your potential legal claim. If you would like more information, or would just like to talk with a lawyer experienced in this litigation, please call attorney Stacy Hauer at 1.800.755.0098 for a free consultation or click below to fill out an online free case review.