Serious Pulmonary Edema Could Result From Avandia Fluid Retention
Rosiglitazone
is a prescription medication that has recently come under scrutiny
from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) because of a probable
link to dangerous Avandia fluid retention. The medical therapeutic is
typically prescribed to patients of type II diabetes, a serious
condition that is characterized by the following symptoms of erratic
blood sugar fluctuations. Increased
thirst Increased
urination Increased
hunger Unexplained
weight loss Unexplained
fatigue Blurred
vision Slow-healing
sores Frequent
infections Areas
of darkened skin
As
recently as 2007, however, the drug has come under scrutiny, as it
has been directly linked to several life-threatening maladies,
including pulmonary edema, or the collection of liquid in the lungs
as a result of this complication. This issue is treatable with
options as simple as additional oxygen and vitamins, but only if the
victim makes it to the hospital on time. Without proper and timely
attention, the sickness can prove fatal in a large portion of the
population. For this reason, be sure to call a health care
professional immediately, or visit the local hospital, if you
experience any of the following issues while taking any medication
that contains rosiglitazone: Introduced
by GlaxoSmithKline in 1999, the drug tends to come in three forms.
With the first form, the popular oral medication known as Avandia,
fluid retention is a common and dangerous side effect. In this brand
name variant, the main drug is prescribed as is. In the first
variant, Avandamet, rosiglitazone is combined with metformin, which
is in fact the most popular anti-diabetic drug, into a single pill.
In another variant, rosiglitazone is combined primarily with
glimepiride, and sold on the market as Avandaryl, another popular way
to treat type II diabetes. Eight
years after initial release to the medical market, two studies
exposed painful Avandia
side effects,
forcing the FDA to closely examine the treatment. The first study was
released on May 21, 2007, and appeared in the New
England Journal of Medicine,
a respected, peer-reviewed journal that covers important medical
issues. This report indicated that the diabetes medications were
definitely causing the dangerous adverse reactions in some patients.
Additional mild contraindications of the therapy include: Upper
respiratory infections (similar to a flu cold)
Headaches
Unusual
swelling or weight gain from irregular fluid accumulation (edema)
Decreased
effectiveness of birth control regimens
It is
important to note that diabetics are already at a higher risk of the
cardiovascular complications listed above, including congestive heart
failure and heart disease. And many victims are upset about the fact
that the proposed cure to their life-long illness could cause an
increased risk for problems like pulmonary edema. The FDA received so
many confirmed complaints of this ailment that they have since
required GlaxoSmithKline to put “black box” warnings on the
prescription information and product packaging. This is the strongest
warning that can be placed on any legal drug. If
you ever have problems breathing, or experience chest pain, you
should seek medical attention immediately. Be sure to tell your
doctor when you arrive if you are taking any of these medications.
Also make sure that you receive proper documentation of problems, and
ask about whether your current treatment is the most appropriate for
you. If you have ever taken any of these forms of rosiglitazone, and
your doctor or physician diagnoses you with any of the resulting
illnesses listed above, you may be eligible to join an existing
lawsuit, or begin one of your own. To find out if you qualify,
contact a knowledgeable attorney today. Though finding the right
lawyer in a sensitive medical situation may seem a daunting task,
using a directory such as LegalTube may help you streamline that
process.
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