Actos better than Avandia according to recent study
According to a new study presented earlier this week, the diabetes drug Actos may be better than Avandia at controlling blood sugar and lipid levels. Over the past few months, many individuals who have been given Avandia to treat their type 2 diabetes, have been concerned about the safety of the drug following reports which indicate Avandia may increase the risk of heart attacks and heart related deaths. If Actos is more effective than Avandia, more individuals may decide that the risk of Avandia heart attacks outweighs the potential benefits provided by the diabetes drug.
>>INFORMATION: Avandia heart attack risk
The findings this new study were presented Wednesday at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, in Amsterdam. Researchers analyzed data from the first three months of a six month study which compares Actos and Avandia head to head.
Actos (pioglitazone) and Avandia (rosiglitazone) are both prescribed for treatment of type 2 diabetes. They are part of the same class of medications, known as thiazolidinediones (TZDs). They are both PPAR drugs (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors), which target gamma receptors to help bring down blood sugar in diabetics.
Data from the study shows that an initial dose of 30 miligrams of Actos was more effective in improving blood sugar levels than a starting dose of 4 milligrams of Avandia. Use of Actos was also found to decrease bad cholesterol levels while improving good cholesterol.
Following a report published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) in May 2007, many have been concerned about the safety of Avandia. That report reviewed of data from 42 clinical trials, which indicated that users of the medication could face a 43% increased risk of a heart attack and a 64% increased risk of heart related death.
Prior to the release of the NEJM study, Avandia and Actos had near equal shares of the market for prescription diabetes drugs. In the months since the study, sales of Avandia have fallen sharply as a result of safety concerns. Even though a recent FDA advisory panel indicated that there is not sufficient justification at this time for an Avandia recall, many doctors are taking that decision into their own hands and switching their patients to Actos or older diabetes medications. Any decisions about whether to discontinue a medication or switch to a different treatment should only be made after speaking with a physician.
AVANDIA LAWSUITS
The lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. represent individuals throughout the United States who are pursuing an Avandia lawsuit after suffering a heart attack, stroke, heart failure or death. The manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline PLC, has failed to properly warn about the dangers associated with their drug and actively worked to minimize the risks in an effort to protect sales, even at the expense of patient safety.
If you, a friend or family member have suffered problems after taking Avandia, request a free case evaluation.
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