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Avandia® Diabetes Drug

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Produced by GlaxoSmithKline, Avandia® is an oral diabetes medication intended to help those with type-2 diabetes better control their blood glucose levels. Generically classified as a thiazoliodinedione, Avandia® is not indicated for those with insulin-dependent (type-1) diabetes.

Unfortunately, since its release in 1999, Avandia® drug has been shown to increase patients' risk of developing the following, potentially fatal side effects:

• congestive heart failure
• heart attack
• pulmonary embolism (a condition in which blood clots congest the lungs and impede breathing)
• stroke

Other serious, non-fatal Avandia® side effects include bone fractures (namely in the hands and feet) and pulmonary hypertension (increased blood pressure in the lungs' arteries).

The discovery of these Avandia® side effects has led to a series of FDA Avandia® warnings, as well as a number of Avandia® lawsuits against GlaxoSmithKline.

FDA Warnings Regarding Avandia® Diabetes Medication

In March and May 2007, the FDA issued national Avandia® warnings to alert medical professionals and the public about the health risks associated with Avandia® use.

Along with highlighting the factors that put patients at a higher risk of developing Avandia® side effects, the FDA also ordered GlaxoSmithKline to print "black box" warnings on Avandia® labels.

Black box drug warnings are the most serious FDA warnings, as they indicate a drug's potential of causing fatal side effects.

On the heels of these FDA Avandia® drug warnings, in September 2007, a study conducted by the Cleveland Clinic found that Avandia® patients were:

• 43 percent more likely to have a heart attack
• 50 percent more likely to suffer from congestive heart failure
• 64 percent more likely to experience sudden cardiac death.

Despite this study, the FDA has yet to issue a full-blown Avandia® recall.

Risk Factors for Avandia® Side Effects

As with any prescription, some patients have a higher risk of developing potentially fatal side effects following an Avandia® diabetes medication treatment. Factors that elevate patients' risk of severe Avandia® side effects include having a history of:
• congestive heart failure
• diabetes-related vision problems
• heart attack
• heart disease
• high blood pressure (hypertension)
• liver disorders
• stroke

Patients taking the following medications may also be at risk of developing severe cases of hypoglycemia (dangerously low blood sugar):

• anticonvulsant drugs
• asthma medications
• birth control pills
• diuretics
• steroids
• thyroid medications

To properly assess and minimize your risk, be sure to discuss your complete medical history with your doctor (including your current medication regimen) before starting a course of the Avandia® drug.

Following Avandia® Complications

Given the severity of Avandia® side effects, it's vital that those injured by the Avandia® diabetes medication:

• Seek medical care as soon as they start developing the signs of severe Avandia® side effects.

• Meet with an Avandia® lawyer, once their health is stabilized, to learn more about their legal rights and find out if they are entitled to compensation for their injuries.