Should Patients Stop Taking Avandia?

With an Avandia study published in the May 21, 2007 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) that links the drug with heart attack, many patients are wondering whether they should stop taking the drug. Hundreds of reports from across the country suggest that consumers are flooding their doctors with questions and concerns about the new report.

Avandia is designed to help patients with Type 2 diabetes by increasing the body's sensitivity to insulin, allowing it process sugar more effectively. However, as the NEJM study shows, the drug may also increase the risk of heart attack by more than 43%. Since this study has been published, it has come to light that some researchers, the GlaxoKlineSmith (Avandia's manufacturer), and even the FDA knew about the heart attack risk seven years ago or more.

Dr. John Buse first raised concerns about the drug in 1999. Today, as chief of endocrinology at the University of North Carolina and the incoming president of the American Diabetes Association, he said it is still too early to recommend patients to stop taking the drug.

"We'll have additional data in the near future and that would be the appropriate time to consider making judgments over Avandia's safety," Dr. Buse told Reuters.

Some might think that eight years without any warnings is already too long. Others suggest that the NEJM was irresponsible in publishing this study and accuse the respected medical journal of fear mongering. However the risk is real enough to catch the eye of Congress. Senator Henry Waxman, House Oversight Chairman, immediately scheduled congressional hearings into why the FDA did not investigate Avandia more thoroughly before approving it for sale in 1999. This was the second such hearing scheduled looking into FDA approval practices to date in 2007.

The bottom line is that users should always consult their doctors before they decide whether to start or stop taking any particular drug, and Avandia is no exception. The frustrating part for doctors and consumers is that there are no firm answers as of yet. The NEJM study into Avandia and heart attacks is flawed by its own admission, but represents the best possible data to date.

The stomach-turning part is that GlaxoKlineSmith and its supporters contend that the NEJM is wrong in their assessment. They claim that there is no conclusive proof that Avandia raises the heart attack risk. But as its manufacturer, it is GlaxoKlineSmith's responsibility to provide that data. Is eight years not enough time to find the answers for a drug that is already on the market?

If you or a loved one has been injured by Avandia, contact a personal injury lawyer at Jim S. Adler & Associates for a free case evaluation. We may be able to successfully negotiate a settlement for you that will cover your additional medical bills and lost work, as well as compensate you for your pain and suffering. Contact Jim S. Adler & Associates by phone right now to start your free assessment, or fill out the form on this page with the details of your Avandia injury, and let us help you get the compensation you deserve.

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