Avandia dropped from list of recommended drugs for Diabetes
New medical guidelines released, with regard to treating people with type 2 diabetes, which excludes the use of the drug Avandia. A related drug, Actos, remains on the list of recommended treatments.
Amid concerns over a possible link with an increased risk of heart attack, the FDA has issued black box warnings for Avandia regarding the potential for myocardial infarction. Both rosiglitazone (Avandia) and pioglitazone (Actos) carry black box warnings for congestive heart failure.
Sales of Avandia this past year have plummeted yet the drug remains on the market. The FDA has asked for extensive long-term trials to determine Avandia’s cardiovascular safety.
Further troubling news about both Avandia and its’ cousin, Actos, includes a link with an increased risk of osteoporosis. While there has been a growing body of evidence that both Actos and Avandia promote bone loss, a concerning study by Swiss researchers, published in April 2008, found that both drugs may actually double or even triple the risk of broken bones after a year or two of use. The researchers did not find any increased risk for bone loss related to any of the other diabetes drugs.
via MedPage Today, October 22, 2008
via Nathan D, et al “Medical management of hyperglycaemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a consensus algorithm for the initiation and adjustment of therapy” Diabetologia 2008; DOI: 10.1007/s00125-008-1157-y
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