Is Avandia A Good Diabetes Drug Choice?

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The Diabetes drug Avandia, which appeared to raise the risk of heart problems

, is still on the market. For three years, there has been a collection of ill effects bei ng reported from the drug's use. In 2007, a study reported that there was a 43% increase in the number of heart attacks, and 64% growth rate in deaths related to heart disease from people that were taking Avandia, as compared to people who were taking other drugs.

Avandia manufacturers seems to have hid safety data, and they also failed to include many patients that experienced heart disease or died while the study was ongoing. If the right data would have been reported, then Avandia would have been known to cause heart damage. Despite all of the problems, it was left on the market, and only 12 of the 33 FDA panel of experts voted to take it off the market. 10 voted to allow the drug to only be prescribed with limiting uses, like making certain that both physicians and patients are well aware of the risks of the drug.

The reason the drug was not yanked from the market seems to be because the panel members weren't 100% convinced about the quality of the studies, and some reported that they couldn't ascertain if Avandia was more risky than Actos, another Diabetes drug. Ultimately, most of them felt that there was simply not enough data to remove the drug.

Avandia isn't the only drug reported to cause health problems in Diabetics. It has been reported that the drug Lantus can cause a greater risk for cancer. These safety concerns are from various scientific studies, like observational data, that cannot always be reliable. The concerns with Avandia arise from clinical trials, which are known as the most reliable findings.
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Another risk for those taking thiazolidinediones, like Avandia and Actos, seems to be a higher risk for developing macular edema. This is when the macula, or portion of the retina used for sharp central vision, swells, and causes fluid leakage. However, in another study, it has been shown that Avandia might actually help to slow some other kinds of eye disease.

Bone fractures seem to be more prevalent in women taking both Avandia and Actos, but not in men. Bone density seemed to be reduced in the spine and hip, which could double the incidence of fracture in women taking these medications. It is assumed that women may suffer fractures because their bones are thinner and smaller, and the medicines might interact with estrogen in the body, causing the bones to become weaker. Both of the drugs have warning labels that state there could be an increase in fractures when taking the drug.

Whether or not Avandia is a good drug choice for Diabetes will depend on whom you ask. Some believe that it should have been pulled from the market years ago, and others stand behind it as being safe for some patients. In any case, before stopping any drug, your physician should be consulted.

by:BrianGarvin

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