Avandia (also known as Rosiglitazone) improves blood sugar control in adults with type-two (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes. Generally, Avandia, which is made by GlaxoSmithKline, is used in conjunction with other drugs, as well as diet and exercise, to control blood sugar. Avandia is taken in a pill form, often in doses of either four milligrams per day or two milligrams per day. While Avandia has been shown to greatly assist in treating type-two diabetes, it has also been associated with dangerous side effects.
An individual is diagnosed with type-two diabetes when he or she does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin, as defined by the American Diabetes Association. Insulin is the means by which the body takes sugar, in the form of glucose, from the blood into cells. Glucose is created when people eat food and the body breaks down all of the sugars and starches into glucose.
Risk of Avandia
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that individuals at risk for heart failure, fluid retention, or active liver disease should avoid taking Avandia. Patients taking the drug may also be at risk of developing primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH), a cardiovascular disease. Most health professionals associate PPH with a higher-than normal blood pressure in the pulmonary artery. PPH has also been associated with the development of heart valve disease and heart valve defects. In fact, the FDA reports that existing data suggests that patients receiving short-term (most studies were 6-months duration) treatment with Avandia may have a 30% to 40% increased risk of heart attack and other adverse heart-related events, than patients treated with placebo or other anti-diabetic therapy. The FDA and GlaxoSmithKline are continuing their analysis of the effect of Avandia on at-risk individuals using this and other data.
The FDA also warns that individuals with type I diabetes (juvenile diabetes) or diabetic ketoacidosis (dangerously high levels of ketones) should not take Avandia. Moreover, women taking Avandia have been found to face a greater risk of bone fracture.
For individuals taking Avandia, symptoms of heart failure or heart disease include the following:
- Excessive rapid weight gain
- Dyspnea
- Edema (from fluid retention)
- Shortness of breath or trouble breathing
- Unusually fast increase in weight
- Unusual tiredness
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to Avandia, it is highly recommended that you seek the advice of experienced legal counsel to determine your options and to preserve your rights. Contact Anderson Law Offices, LLC for a free evaluation of your case.
