Is Avandia Dangerous? What Consumers Should Know about Avandia and Heart Problems

By Marat Gaziev

Published on October 05, 2009

Avandia, a medication used to treat type 2 diabetes, has been used by millions of patients worldwide and has generated billions of dollars in revenue for GlaxoSmithKline, the manufacturer of the drug. However, Avandia use has been linked to an increased risk of serious health problems, leading many to question the safety of the medication.

A 2007 study conducted by the Cleveland Clinic found significant increases in the risk of heart attack and heart-related deaths in patients using Avandia. The clinical trial showed that Avandia ups the patients' risk of heart attack by 43 percent and the risk of cardiovascular deaths surges by 64 percent in patients using the drug.

On May 21, 2007, shortly after the Cleveland Clinic study was published in The New England Journal of Medicine, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a safety warning about Avandia, saying the drug causes a "potentially significant" increase in patients' risk of heart attack and death.

On November 14, 2007, the FDA updated the product's labeling to reflect new information about the potential risks of Avandia use, including fluid retention, edema, congestive heart failure, and heart attacks.

On June 5, 2009, GlaxoSmithKline released the results of RECORD, a study initiated in 2001. The study was designed to compare cardiovascular outcomes of patients using Avandia to those taking other diabetes medicines such as metformin and sulfonylurea. The study did not find any significant statistical difference in cardiovascular problems between the two groups.

Consumer groups and attorneys question the validity of the GlaxoSmithKline study, saying the results are based on trick science and that not enough participants were included in the study to produce reliable results.

If you or a loved one has suffered any side effects after taking Avandia, you may be entitled to compensation and should contact a defective drugs attorney.

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