AVANDIA: DIABETES DRUG LINKED TO HEART ATTACK AND DEATH

Avandia (rosiglitazone) is a drug used to treat Type 2 diabetes, also known as adult-onset diabetes. Avandia is made and marketed by the pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline and is used by more than 2 million people. Studies have shown that the use of Avandia can lead to a significant risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular events, including heart-related chest pain, edema, fluid retention and heart failure, all of which can lead to death. Currently, Avandia carries a "black box warning" which alerts user as to the dangerous risks associated with taking the medication. If you or someone you know has suffered a heart attack or another heart related problem in conjunction with taking Avandia, please call the Law Offices of Greenberg & Rudman LLP now at 1-800-252-9776 for your free consultation.

Avandia (rosiglitazone) Risks
Following is a list of risks shown to be related to Avandia use:

• Edema
• Heart attack
• Heart failure
• Heart-related chest pain
• Fluid retention
• Death, as a result of cardiovascular events

Avandia Purpose and Use
The active ingredient in Avandia, rosiglitazone, is in a class of drugs known as thiazolidinediones. The job of this class of medication is to control blood sugar by affecting insulin resistance. Avandia is used to increase the diabetic's sensitivity to insulin.

Avandia is available as a medication on its own, or in combination with other diabetic-fighting drugs, such as metformin or glimepiride. Often Avandia is prescribed along with other anti-diabetic medications. Actos is a drug that works similarly to Avandia.

Avandia History
Avandia was approved by the F.D.A. (Food and Drug Administration) in 1999 has been available in the United States ever since. Prior to the release Avandia, another diabetes-treating drug, Rezulin, was linked to causing liver problems. From 1999 to 2006 Avandia became one of GlaxoSmithKline's best selling products, netting the company over $3 billion.

In 2005 GlaxoSmithKline presented data to the FDA. suggesting that Avandia may cause increased risk of heart attacks; however, the F.D.A. did not find the results significant enough to warrant action.

In 2007, an article published in The New England Journal of Medicine linked Avandia to increased risk of heart attacks. The article cited a compilation of studies led by Dr. Steven E. Nissen of the Cleveland Clinic. The study asserted that Avandia-users had higher risk of heart attack or other heart-related events. Patients taking Avandia were shown to have a 43% higher risk of having a heart attack when taking Avandia. This study received wide publicity and coverage. Additional doctors soon also raised concerns about Avandia's safety.

Avandia Now: Warning Issued
Following the release of Dr. Nissen's study, the F.D.A. met to review Avandia's safety and efficacy in July, 2007. Upon review, the F.D.A. decided to allow Avandia to remain on the market, but to bolster the warning labels on the merchandise. Currently, warnings on Avandia exist asking patients to be on the lookout for fluid accumulation on the lungs, legs or ankles which could lead to heart attack or heart failure. This "black box" warning is the severest given by the F.D.A.

If you or a loved one has suffered adverse effects from the use of Avandia in California, please seek the help of an experienced attorney. The Law Firm of Greenberg & Rudman LLP has over 50 years combined experience in helping people fight for their rights. Let us help you during this painful and difficult time. Call 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) now for your free and confidential consultation.