Heart Attacks, Heart Disease, and Death Linked to Avandia Side Effects
Rosiglitazone
is a popular prescription drug used in the treatment of type II
diabetes. In 1999, GlaxoSmithKline released two brand name drugs onto
the market, combining rosiglitazone with other drugs that maintain
and control blood sugar at regular levels. By itself, it is marketed
as Avandia. Another version, called Avandamet, is combined with
metformin, the world’s most popular diabetes drug. The other
version produced by the pharmaceutical giant is called Avandaryl,
which is combined with glimepiride. Unfortunately, while the
treatments are specifically designed to help control the continuing
issues related to diabetes, two studies were released in 2007 that
linked them to some very painful Avandia side effects.
One
of the studies, released on May 21, 2007 in the New
England Journal of Medicine,
a respected, peer-reviewed journal that covers important medical
issues, showed positively that the diabetes medications produced by
GlaxoSmithKline are associated with dangerous Avandia side effects 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
Diabetic
patients already experience an increased risk for heart problems,
including heart disease and congestive heart failure. And it is for
this reason that the complications can be so troubling to patients.
By adding to an already elevated risk of heart issues, they
significantly increase the chances that patients will experience one
or more of the painful signs of eventual heart failure, including
excessive and rapid weight gain, and shortness of breath or gasping
for air (dyspnea). Another
study released in the same year revealed additional problems from the
drug, possibly attributed to deteriorating bones. The results showed
that a significantly high percentage of women - especially
postmenopausal women - taking the rosiglitazone drugs developed
unnaturally high occurrences of fractures and broken bones. The
majority of these breaks and fractures occurred in the hand, foot,
and arm. Aside
from those shown in these two studies, there are other issues that
patients should be aware of. Although these are less serious
examples, headaches, back pain, and sudden anemia can be signs of a
problem. More serious complications can include liver problems such
as jaundice, which carries some of the following symptoms: Because
of these issues, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has required
that GlaxoSmithKline put black box warnings on the packaging and
medical information. The black box warning is the strongest warning
that the FDA can mandate on any legally produced and distributed
medication. If
you have ever taken either of the drugs listed above, and are feeling
ill, contact your health care professional immediately. If your
doctor or physician diagnoses you with any of the problems outlined
above, they may have been caused by the rosiglitazone medications,
and you may be eligible to start or join an Avandia
lawsuit . To
determine the recompense that you may be owed, contact one of our top
attorneys immediately.
|