Latest Research Links Drug to Liver Failure and Death; Avandia Already Shown to Increase Risk of Heart Attacks, Eye Damage
If you take Avandia to help control your Type 2 diabetes, take note: the drug may put you at risk for liver failure, heart attack and death. A consumer group argues that the drug is so dangerous it needs to be banned.
If you have suffered liver damage, a heart attack, bone fractures or vision problems while using Avandia, you may have a legal claim. Contact our law firm today at 1-800-659-1159.
Avandia, sold by GlaxoSmithKline, is an anti-diabetic drug that helps patients control their blood sugar levels. The FDA approved the drug in 1999. Avandia was touted as a safer alternative than Rezulzin, a drug which was pulled from the market because it caused liver toxicity. However, questions quickly arose about the severe side effects of Avandia.
As early as 2000, the director of the UNC Diabetes Care Center raised concerns about the drug's negative impact on the heart. But the true danger that Avandia posed to the heart came to light in May 2007, when a New England Journal of Medicine study established that the drug increased the risk of heart attacks by 43 percent. In July 2007, an FDA panel acknowledged that elevated threat of heart damage but decided to keep the drug on the market with a "Black Box" warning. A Black Box warning is required when a drug carries a risk of severe injury or death.
Next came reports of serious liver damage linked to Avandia. In October 2008, the consumer group Public Citizen, using the FDA's own Adverse Event Reporting System, said it had uncovered 14 cases of Avandia-induced liver failure -- including 12 deaths. The group has petitioned the Food and Drug Administration to ban the drug. Despite mounting evidence to the contrary, GlaxoSmithKline insists that the drug does not cause liver problems.
While heart attacks and liver toxicity are among the most serious side effects of Avandia, the drug also increases the risk of bone fractures, anemia and vision loss from macular edema, a swelling of the retina caused by fluids accumulating in the eye.
Avandia racked up $3 billion in sales in 2006, when about 13 million people took the drug. But usage fell by more than one-half in 2007 following the negative report in The New England Journal of Medicine. Even so, about 10,000 prescriptions are still being filled every day for this dangerous pharmaceutical product.
At Gordon & Doner, we believe the makers of dangerous drugs such as Avandia should be held accountable when someone is injured or killed by their products. If you or a loved one has been harmed by the use of Avandia, you need to explore your legal options before it is too late. For more information or to schedule a free case evaluation, contact the lawyers of Gordon & Doner today at 1-800-659-1159.
Additional Resources: Avandia - Renewed Concerns
