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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.