Avandia

Avandia Linked to Increased Risk of Heart Attack and Death

Avandia, a widely prescribed drug used to treat type 2 diabetes, has been shown to increase users' risk of heart attack by 43 percent and cardiac-related death by 64 percent, according to the 2007 study, Effect of Rosiglitazone on the Risk of Myocardial Infarction and Death from Cardiovascular Causes.

Because of the public health importance of this study, the New England Journal of Medicine released an early online version of an article that appeared in its June 14, 2007 issue.

More than 6 million people worldwide have used Avandia (generic name rosiglitazone) since it was approved 8 years ago to help control blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, the most common form of diabetes. Currently, about 1 million Americans use Avandia.

The study was conducted by two doctors at the Cleveland Clinic who evaluated 42 studies that compared patients taking Avandia with those who were not. The overall study involved 28,000 patients, 15,560 of whom were taking Avandia.

Of those patients taking Avandia, 86 suffered heart attacks compared to 72 among patients not on the drug. In addition, another 39 patients died from cardiovascular causes compared to 22 patients who were not taking Avandia.

The Food and Drug Administration issued a safety alert on May 21, 2007 and will likely convene an advisory panel to look into the safety of Avandia.

Avandia is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, PLC.

Note - Do not change medications without first consulting your doctor.

Please fill out the form below to contact a Case Manager.