[fiesta]

I saw about Avandia on the TV this morning. It is also in the NYTimes.

Here is the link:

Diabetes Drug Avandia Harms the Heart, Studies Find - NYTimes.com

Avandia was once one of the biggest-selling drugs in the world. A study by a Cleveland Clinic cardiologist suggested that Avandia harmed the heart prompted the FDA to issue a warning and sales plunged. A committee of indepent experts found in 2007 that Avandia might increase the risk of heart attacks but recommended that it remain on the market, and an FDA oversight board voted 8-7 to accept that advice.

Some of top endocrinologists say they have sworn off the drug.

They have known this for 3 years and they finally have come out with the truth.

There is a lot more in the article, especially at the top, the recent news. Please look up the link.

Ruth

 

[breezeonby]

Ruth: Actos works basically the same as Avandia. There are special warnings on the prescribing information that comes with Actos. Both can cause heart problems. I take Actos and I worry about it often. I get a special letter about every 2-months from the manufacture of Actos-every letter warns about congestive heart failure.

 

[fiesta]

I did not know that. It was on the news today and my husband saw it on the news tonight.

Is it working for you?

Ruth

 

[Richard157]

Ruth, I am Type 1 but I developed insulin resistance in the 1990s and my doctor prescribed Avandia in 1999. That was the first year it was approved in the US. My insulin dosage had increased 40% because of the resistance. In only a few days Avandia began working for me and my insulin dosage was back to normal in a week's time. It has been a wonder drug for me. I have taken Avandia for 11 years and it has never caused me a problem. My heart was thouroughly tested by a cardiologist in 2006 and they were very pleased with my healthy heart.

My doctor (internal medicine) took me off Avandia in 2007 because of the news reports concerning heart problems. I started taking Actos. My BG was running very high for the next 6 weeks and my insulin dosage had increased again. i gain weight whenever I run high BG. I asked my endo for a second opinion and she said to continue Avandia. In a few days I was back to normal again and I lost the weight I had gained.

I will be very disappointed if Avandia is discontinued just because a small percentage of users have had heart problems. I hope it remains on the market. Doctors should screen their patients and have them tested for good heart health before prescribing Avandia. Follow-up testing should be done each year.

 

[breezeonby]

I did not know that. It was on the news today and my husband saw it on the news tonight.

Is it working for you?

Ruth

I have only seen a small improvement in my overall bs readings. I am going to talk to my doctor at my next visit about continuing the drug. I do not need any additional health problems and congestive heart failure is a serious medical condition. If I were to see the type of improvement that Richard has, then I might feel different.

 

[breezeonby]

Avandia made the night time CBS news tonight. It does seem that there will be some more investigating on the drug and its connection to heart problems.

 

[Shanny]

I just hope it isn't all a big marketing ploy to have Avandia pulled off the market just before it goes off-patent next year. I don't trust these guys any farther than I could throw 'em.

 

[isisagate]

Well I would say if there is another option for you I would take that option, don't want to mess with those side effects. But at the same time it's probably more likely in certain individuals maybe people with family history of heart disease or something.

As for off patent... I wish we could get some generic humalog already! =)

 

[fiesta]

Hi, I have not heard about them taking it off of the market. I am glad it is working for you Richard. It is great that you are not having heart problems. I do cardiovascular exercises by DVD 3 times a week.

We all need to keep our heart strong.

Ruth