Avandia Diabetes Medication Increases Risk of Heart Failure

Diabetes is a serious disease. Millions of people have been prescribed Avandia diabetes medication to manage their Type 2 diabetes symptoms. As a matter of fact, GlaxoSmithKline, the manufacturer of Avandia diabetes medication makes about $3 billion dollars annually from Avandia sales worldwide. 

Avandia diabetes medication is not without problems —fatal heart problems. Recently the Food and Drug Administration announced that Avandia diabetes medication causes Avandia heart failure. People with diabetes are already at a greater risk for heart failure. The American Diabetes Association estimates that two out of every three diabetics die of heart disease. Here, the very diabetes medication that is supposed to help relieve the symptoms of diabetes and stabilize blood glucose insulin levels is also increasing diabetics’ risks of heart attacks.

According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (May 2007) Avandia diabetes medication increased a patients’ risk of Avandia heart attack by 43 percent. In response, the FDA required GlaxoSmithKline to include an Avandia black box warning on its labels and issue a new safety warning. You have to wonder with those high odds or a great risk of Avandia heart attack why a doctor would now knowingly prescribe Avandia diabetes medication now.
More importantly, the question to ask is: Why would the FDA still allow Avandia on the market and not request a total Avandia recall?

Doctors are now being warned to avoid prescribing Avandia diabetes medication to patients who have heart problems or take nitrates. In a June 2007 report issued by the FDA, the report suggested that Avandia diabetes medication may have caused at least 83,000 avoidable heart attacks since it entered the market in 1999.

Has your loved one died from a heart attack while taking Avandia diabetes medication? Have you or a loved one developed a heart condition while being prescribed Avandia diabetes medication?

You are not alone.

One of the saddest parts of the Avandia diabetes medication story is that in 1999 there is some evidence that GlaxoSmithKline knew about the Avandia potential for heart problems when a diabetes expert shared his information with the FDA. GlaxoSmithKline threatened to sue. So since 1999, the FDA knew about the potential Avandia heart attack injury problems but chose not to take any action until 2007.

Try to imagine what percent of at least 83,000 heart attacks could have been prevented if the FDA was not funded by the very big pharmaceutical businesses that they monitor and oversee.

If your loved one has died from Avandia heart failure and was prescribed Avandia diabetes medication – you could be part of an Avandia class action lawsuit. Please contact Monheit Law for your complimentary, no-obligation legal consultation. Let us help you in your time of need.