Avandia, or Rosiglitazone, is an anti-diabetic drug used most commonly to treat Type II diabetes. It improves the ability of diabetics to control their blood sugar by heightening insulin sensitivity. Millions of Americans use Avandia each year, and the drug earns billions in sales every year. However, Avandia may increase the risk of heart attacks. A 2007 study in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that Avandia led to a higher risk of heart attacks and death from a heart-related disease than other diabetes drugs.

In May 2007, the FDA issued a safety alert about Avandia indicating that it may lead to an increase in the risk of heart attack. In August 2007, the FDA issued another safety alert indicating that Avandia may also lead to heart failure. Finally, in November 2007, the FDA issued a black box warning, the strongest warning it can give to a drug, for Avandia. The black box warning indicated that the drug may lead to an increase in heart attack in its users.

Most recently, Avandia made headlines due to the uncovering of confidential government reports, in which doctors from the FDA concluded that "Rosiglitazone [Avandia] should be removed from the market." An ongoing debate on whether the federal agency should pull the drug from the market has been fueled by disagreements over a new clinical trial on the risks of Avandia and a Senate investigation which concluded that Avandia's manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline, should have warned patients about its risks years earlier. Avandia has been ranked first among all prescribed drugs for the number of resulting serious or fatal problems, including 304 deaths in just the third quarter of 2009.

Severe Avandia Side Effects

Studies show that Avandia has been linked to such severe side effects as:

• Heart Attack: The 2007 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that Avandia raised a patient's heart attack risk by 43 percent over other diabetes drugs. Heart attacks, also known as myocardial infarctions, occur when blood flow to the heart is interrupted, causing the death of some heart cells. Typical symptoms of a heart attack include sudden chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, sweating and anxiety, and palpitations, or awareness of an abnormal heartbeat.
• Congestive Heart Failure: Congestive heart failure occurs when problems surrounding the heart's structure limit its ability to supply adequate blood flow to the rest of the body. In other words, your heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's demand. Common causes of congestive heart failure include heart attack, hypertension, and heart disease.

Contact our Experienced Attorneys

The lawyers at the Pintas & Mullins Law Firm have extensive knowledge about drug litigation. If you or a loved one has suffered a heart attack or congestive heart failure while taking Avandia, contact our office immediately. Each drug case is unique, and most have a specific time frame in which you can file. Our law firm can provide you with a free no-obligation consultation and explain your legal rights.

Resource Links

Warnings, Precautions, and Indications-Avandia Label
Visit this link to read the warnings, precautions, and indications from Avandia's label on the FDA's website.

Avandia's Black Box Warning by the FDA
Visit this link to read the FDA's press release on Avandia's black box warning when it was issued in November 2007 on the FDA's website.