Avandia® and Diabetes

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Avandia is a medication commonly used in the treatment of diabetes, specifically Type 2 diabetes. Avandia was created by drug manufacturing giant GlaxoSmithKline and have been available to the public since it received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration in 1999. The medication has been taken by over 5 million individuals since its release and reached a sales total of $3 billion in 2006.

Experts estimate that nearly 20 million people in the United States are living with Type 2 diabetes, also called adult-onset diabetes. Diabetes is a metabolic condition mainly characterized by high levels of sugar in the blood. Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that is considered incurable, but can be treated with medications, such as Avandia, along with diet monitoring, an exercise program, and insulin supplementation. This type of diabetes is caused by a combination of reduced insulin secretion from the pancreas and insulin resistance in the cells of the body. Type 2 diabetes can show no symptoms for many years before complications from the condition bring the disorder to light.

There are many complications associated with Type 2 diabetes. If the condition is not controlled adequately, patients may experience acute complications such as hypoglycemia or diabetic ketosis, which can be life-threatening if not treated promptly. Other complications can include cardiovascular disease, nerve damage, erectile dysfunction, retinal damage, and chronic renal failure. Type 2 diabetes is also the most significant cause of adult blindness and limb amputation in non-elderly patients in the world.

Avandia reduces the levels of sugar in the body while helping the body use insulin more productively. Using this medication along with other treatment techniques helps the patient effectively manage their blood sugar. The medication is marketed as a single drug as Avandia and as a drug combination as Avandryl and Avandamet.

The most common side effects linked to Avandia are upper respiratory infections, fluid retention, back pain, headache, and diarrhea. Patients taking this medication may also experience hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, macular edema, or liver damage. Researchers have also found a link between Avandia and an elevated risk of cardiovascular damage, including heart damage, heart valve damage, heart attack, and heart failure. Studies indicate that the risk of heart attack can be as much as 66% higher in patients taking Avandia versus patients taking other diabetes medications.

The US Food and Drug Administration is currently reviewing recently compiled data on Avandia and associated adverse events. The manufacturer has not been asked to perform any certain tasks relating to the increased risk of adverse events, but a warning was issued by the US Food and Drug Administration to healthcare professionals informing them of the new findings. The information concerning the adverse complications could potentially impact millions of individuals worldwide. It has been estimated that up to 10,000 people may have experienced a heart attack due to the fact that they were taking Avandia. Even though an Avandia recall has not been issued by the FDA to date, information pertaining to the risks associated with the medication is still under review.

If you or a loved one have taken Avandia® and suffered any adverse side effects, you should contact us immediately. You may be entitled to compensation and we can help.

Do I have an Avandia Lawsuit?

The Defective Drug Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus exclusively on the representation of plaintiffs in Avandia lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new Avandia cases in all 50 states.

Attention Attorneys: We do not publish prior verdict/settlements. If you are an attorney and would like to refer us a case or for us to send you a profile of prior award judgments or average referral fees, please visit the attorney referral section of our website.

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Avandia Heart Attack News (National)