Yesterday I posted my A1C results from October 2004 to present day (7/31/2011). When my regular doctor was out of the office on maternity leave a couple of years ago, the substitute doctor wanted to put me on Avandia. I did not have good vibes about it, however they wrote the prescription and I left the office with it. As is my usual Modus Operandi, I went back to my office at the time,
prayed about it and
looked up the side effects and also went on a couple of forums to see what the people taking this drug were experiencing.
The reason I mention this, is again
I want to encourage you to take a more active role in your own health care regimen.
I am NOT telling you (NOT) to listen to your doctor or health care provider. I am telling you to consider that one step in managing your diabetes. You absolutely must play a role in researching both prescription drugs, AND natural cures, herbal treatments, the PH Miracle thinking, the hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oil thinking and your diet and exercise plan. NO ONE else is going to do it for you. QUIT waiting for the magic bullet, the magic drug, the magic cure or the once a day pill you can take and continue to eat anything and everything in sight and never get off the couch. NONE of those people who suffered heart attacks and other severe side effects to Avandia and Actos were suffering from ,
"An Avandia
or Actos
drug deficiency"
Thank the good LORD above, that I ended up not filling the prescription. I have also followed advice and research from Mike Adams, nicknamed, "The Health Ranger". Here is a link from Mike's website on the FDA and its role in Avandia and Actos.
Link to Mike's Site: / I strongly encourage you to add Mike's website to your favorites.
I remember the forums I read at the time did not have a favorable response to Avandia. To be honest I cannot remember all the problems and the drug was relatively new in terms of prescription drugs at the time. One of the things that stood out for me was horror stories of unexplained weight gain. I remember one in particular where the individual gained around 80 pounds as a side effect of the drug. That clinched it for me as gaining 80 pounds as a way to control type II diabetes did not make much sense to me. As mentioned in Mike's report, the FDA was apparently aware of a 43% increase in heart attacks from people using Avandia. That is a significant statistic not to have cause them to pull Avandia off the shelves immediately (in my humble opinion).
Excerpt from article:
In a letter sent today to FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach, Public Citizen described how the 2002 memo showed that FDA scientists recommended that labels for Avandia and Actos, another widely prescribed
diabetes drug, be amended to include mention of post-marketing reports of
heart failure among patients taking the two
drugs. To date, the label hasn't changed.
"The failure of
the FDA to act on the recommendations made almost five years ago by its Division of Drug Risk Evaluation is yet another case in which the conclusions of
scientists who are engaged in post-market
drug safety review are not taken seriously enough or addressed soon enough," said Dr. Sidney Wolfe, director of the Health Research Group at
Public Citizen. "As a result, millions of people – to the detriment of their
health – are prescribed drugs whose risks are dangerously understated, instead of being prescribed safer, equally or more effective alternative drugs."
The July 16, 2002, memo shows that, at the time, the
FDA had 47 adverse reaction reports in which the use of
Avandia (25 cases) and Actos (22 cases) resulted in hospitalization for heart
failure. As of last fall, the number of such cases had increased to 803 (415, Avandia; 388, Actos). The total number of prescriptions filled for Avandia and Actos in 2006 was 22 million (11 million for each).
Here is another important link:
Here is another except from this web page:
vandia® Death Risk
The number of
deaths among Avandia® users continues to rise, sparking much controversy among the healthcare community.
Avandia® Death Risk
The
diabetes drug Avandia® has been a topic of concern ever since it hit the market. In fact, there has been more than one study suggesting that Avandia® significantly increases the risk of death among its users.
Shocking Avandia® Death Rate
One of the most recent studies, which was released Nov. 24, 2008, suggested that death rate among patients who use Avandia® is 15 percent higher than those taking Actos (
pioglitazone). The same study found the incidence of heart failure to be 13 percent higher among patients using Avandia®. Actos is one of the competing type-2 diabetes drugs on the market.
Avandia® Death Risk Controversy: 2007 Analysis
The controversy surrounding the use of Avandia® dates back to a 2007 analysis of more than 40 studies and nearly 28,000 patients that confirmed that patients who take the Avandia® drug have a
much higher death risk due to cardiovascular events.
The analysis, published in the
New England Journal of Medicine in May 2007, indicated that patients treated with Avandia® for Type 2 diabetes have a significantly higher risk of dying from a heart-related problem compared to patients who are treated with another diabetes drug or a placebo.
If you are concerned about Avandia®’s death risk, you should consult with a physician as soon as possible. If you have been injured as a result of taking Avandia®,
a qualified defective drug lawyer can determine if you are eligible to seek reimbursement for your losses with an
Avandia® lawsuit.
What Diabetics Should Know About Avandia®
Type 2 diabetes affects up to 20 million Americans, and an estimated one million American patients are currently taking Avandia®. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has required that new safety information be added to the drug’s label to warn users and healthcare professionals of Avandia®’s death risk and other serious
side effects.
Avandia® May Lead to Fatal Heart Attacks
People with Type 2 diabetes already have an increased risk of cardiovascular problems, and taking a drug that provides an increased risk of
heart attack and other heart problems could lead to deadly complications. In fact, the new meta-analysis of Avandia® data revealed a 30 to 40 percent increased risk of heart attack in patients treated with Avandia®, some of which proved fatal.
FDA Criticized Over Avandia® Death & Heart Attack Risk
When the NEJM published the new safety analysis, the FDA came under harsh new criticism over
Avandia®’s death risk and heart attack risk—with documents revealing that the FDA was aware of Avandia®’s risks as early as 2000. Still, GlaxoSmithKline was allowed to continue marketing—and reaping exorbitant profits from sales of—Avandia®.
Evidence shows that Glaxo knew about the dangers, including heart attack and death, associated with its blockbuster drug. Because the company sacrificed safety to profits, it may be held liable for damages suffered by those harmed by Avandia®.
Compensation May Be Available for Your Losses
If your loved one died while using Avandia®, your losses should not go silenced. You should consult with an experienced Avandia® attorney to learn more about your legal rights and options. Recoverable damages often include:
- medical costs
- funeral/burial costs
- loss of enjoyment of life
- loss of companionship and moral support
- mental anguish and emotional trauma
To learn more about your legal rights from an experienced product liability attorney,
contact us today.
Defective Drugs Breaking News
"Risk of Death Halts Government Study"
A government run diabetes trial was halted 18 months early after a safety analysis revealed an increased risk of death in patients whose blood sugar levels dipped too low.
The 10,000 patient trial was examining the effectiveness of aggressive ...
"Journal of the American Medical Association reaffirms previous findings about the diabetes drug Avan"
A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association reaffirms previous findings about the diabetes drug Avandia—that is, it carries a significantly increased risk of heart failure, heart attack, and death.
Ob...
"Heart Attack Risk Warning for Avandia"
At the urging of the Food and Drug Administration, GlaxoSmithKline is adding a new warning to its once-popular diabetes drug Avandia . An increased risk of heart attack will now appear in additio...
Dan
Isaiah 53:5 (New International Version, ©2010)
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
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