Avandia Linked To An Increased Risk Of Heart Disease
May 21, 2007 by Kendra James, RN
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
Funny, I just wrote about this on Diabetes Notes, but since everyone and their mother sent me the link, I will share it on A Hearty Life as well. The popular type 2 diabetic drug Avandia has now been linked to an increased risk of heart disease and possibly death.
More than 6 million people worldwide have taken the drug sold by London-based GlaxoSmithKline PLC since it came on the market eight years ago. Pooled results of dozens of studies revealed a 43 percent higher risk of heart attack, according to the review published by the New England Journal of Medicine.
The numbers are fairly impressive and warrant concern and questions. Why was the medication approved in the first place? Why did it take this long for research to be done on Avandia if there was speculation?
When the drug was approved, “evidence was at best mixed” on its benefit, wrote the two doctors. Both have been frequent critics of the FDA’s failure to spot dangers in the drug approval process and its conduct in the case involving Vioxx. The popular arthritis medicine sold by Merck & Co. was taken off the market in 2004 when heart problems came to light after it had been taken by millions of people
We all remember the happenings that followed with the discovery of the increased cardiac risks of Vioxx. Will Avandia follow suit?
Bottom line in my opinion, if you are on Avandia and have heart disease, you need to ask questions. You and only you can protect yourself. As I always say, be your own advocate!
via CNN
