Avandia Heart Failure Study Could be Last Nail in Coffin
This week a new study was released that found that the risk of congestive heart failure and death is higher with Avandia than Actos, which is another diabetes drug in the same class that has also been associated with a risk of heart failure. Critics who have been calling for an Avandia recall suggest that this study may be the “last nail in the coffin of this drug.”
>>INFORMATION: Timeline of Avandia Heart Side Effects
The study was released this week by The Archives of Internal Medicine comparing the rate of congestive heart failure and death among users of Avandia and Actos.
Both drugs are part of a newer class of diabetes drugs known as thiazolidinedione agents, and both medications carry prominent “black box” warnings about the increased risk of congestive heart failure.
Researchers found that when use of the two medications is compared, users of Avandia face a 13% greater risk of heart failure and 15% higher rate of death. The study was based on data from 28,000 Medicare patients who were over 65 years old.
Last month, Public Citizen, a prominent consumer advocacy group, filed a petition with the FDA calling for an Avandia recall due to a number of serious and potentially life-threatening side effects, including an increased risk of heart attacks, heart failure, liver failure, bone fractures, vision loss and death. The petition indicated that the risks posed by the side effects of Avandia outweigh any potential benefits provided by the drug.
According to a report in the New York Times:
Dr. Sidney Wolfe, director of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group, said he hoped this study would be ‘the last nail in the coffin of this drug.’
‘The big attraction of these drugs is that they are insulin-sensitizing drugs and forestall the time when someone would have to go to insulin,’ Dr. Wolfe added. ‘But with a 15 percent excess mortality of over even [Actos], which itself is dangerous, that doesn’t seem like a very good tradeoff.’
AVANDIA HEART FAILURE LAWYERS
The Avandia lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. have been representing individuals who suffered injuries after taking Avandia since May 2007. Potential Avandia lawsuits are being reviewed throughout the United States, as GlaxoSmithKline has failed to adequately warn about the dangers of their medication and has fought to keep it on the market despite known side effects that justify an Avandia recall.
If you, a friend or family member have suffered from side effects of Avandia, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.
1 Comment • Add Your Comments
Patti says:
My sister was prescribed Avandia and was taking it in 2005. She was having problems with low blood sugar and decreased the amount of Avandia she was taking. She had had cardiac bypass surgery in the past. On Mother’s Day in May of 2005 she was admitted to the hospital due to recurring episodes of hypoglycemia in a 12 hour period. She kept all of her medical information on her refrigerator and the EMS knew to take it to the hospital with her. Unfortunately her listed meds stated she took the Avandia daily. Within a short time she went into Congested Heart Failure and was put on a ventilator. After over a week it was determined she would not be able to be removed from the ventilator, without dying. She had a living will refusing life on a ventilator. On June 5, 2005 she was removed from the ventilator and died later that evening. I believe the Avandia played a part in her seriou decline and death. I have not reviewed her medical records and do not know if they will bear out my thoughts, but I believe I am correct.
Posted on August 21, 2009 at 9:09 pm