The US Food and Drug Administration says that starting November 18, Avandia will no longer be sold at retail pharmacies in the US because the diabetes drug poses too high a cardiovascular risk to patients. Instead, people allowed to take Avandia will be able to get the drug through mail-order pharmacies only. Avandia also will only be available to drug users that have been safely using the medication, those that don’t have a problem using other diabetes drugs to control their blood sugar, and diabetes patients that are opting to take the drug even though they know of the risks. If you believe that your health issues or your loved one’s death was caused by taking Avandia, do not hesitate to speak with an experienced Boston products liability law firm immediately.
Avandia is made by GlaxoSmithKline. According to a 2007 study, the risk of a type 2 diabetes patient suffering a heart attack went up 40% when that person started taking Avandia. Other studies have confirmed this higher risk.
Despite these findings from a few years ago, some cardiologists are wondering why the FDA waited until now to take action. Also, as our Boston dangerous drug lawyers have reported in past blog posts, drug manufactures are supposed to make sure that their medications are not dangerous for use. Yet, unfortunately, there are drugs out there that have been FDA-approved but continue to cause serious health complications for patients. For example, Avandia has, in rare instances, been linked to life-threatening liver complications. Other possible side effects from this diabetes drug include headaches, respiratory infections, bone fractures, edema, fluid retention, and abnormal ovulation.
FDA to Pull Diabetes Drug Avandia from Pharmacy Shelves, US News, May 19, 2011
FDA puts heavy restrictions on Avandia, McKnights’s, May 20, 2011
Related Web Resources:
Food and Drug Administration
Avandia, NIH
Glaxo Smith Kline
More Blog Posts:
Boston Personal Injury?: Use of Psychotropic Drugs Can Prove Fatal for Some Elderly Patients, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, March 30, 2011
Massachusetts Dangerous Drug?: Women Affected by Yaz Birth Control May Have Grounds for Lawsuit, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, March 26, 2011
Massachusetts Dangerous Drug Lawsuit Says Raptiva Caused Serious Infections, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, February 8, 2011
Working with an experienced Boston injury lawyer can remove the intimidation factor that can come with seeking injury or wrongful death compensation from a large drug manufacturer. Medications are supposed to help, not hurt patients.