Avandia

Avandia is a prescription pharmaceutical drug intended to treat the symptoms associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Also referred to as “adult-onset” diabetes and “non-insulin dependent” diabetes, type 2 diabetes develops when an individual’s body is unable to produce enough insulin, or when the body does not appropriately respond to insulin production.

Although Avandia was designed to treat diabetes symptoms, it has been shown to cause a number of serious health risks and side effects, including cardiovascular problems, heart attack, and cardiovascular failure. Women who take Avandia also face an increased risk of bone fracture.

Due to GlaxoSmithKline’s negligence in informing physicians and patients about these serious side effects, patients who have been injured by Avandia may be entitled to receive compensation for their injuries.

What Is Avandia?

Avandia is a drug that is designed to lower blood sugar in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise program. Lowering blood sugar is crucial in managing diabetes and diabetes symptoms.

Avandia lowers blood sugar to help the body use its own insulin more efficiently. It is administered in tablet form.

Avandia Side Effects

Avandia may cause a number of dangerous side effects, many of which have fatal consequences. Patients taking Avandia are at risk of developing primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH), a cardiovascular disease associated with a higher-than-normal blood pressure in the pulmonary artery. Individuals who develop PPH as a result of taking Avandia may also develop heart valve disease and defects.

Moreover, Avandia has been linked to causing an increased risk of fractures in female patients, as the defective drug may lower bone density.
The side effects and controversy surrounding Avandia continues to grow as new information surfaces regarding GlaxoSmithKline’s knowledge of Avandia health risks.

On June 6, 2007, a congressional hearing in Washington revealed information from a medical expert who testified that he attempted to inform GlaxoSmithKline and the public about important safety information regarding heart risks associated with Avandia.

His testimony detailed the cover up and legal threats issued by GlaxoSmithKline if he revealed the serious cardiovascular side effects caused by the defective diabetes drug.

As a result of his testimony, the Food and Drug Administration took action against GlaxoSmithKline, requiring a black box warning for Avandia that alerts consumers to the health risks associated with the drug.

Avandia Update

On November 14th, 2007, the FDA added a second Black Box warning to Avandia for heart attack risks – The New England Journal of Medicine published a study in May of 2007 that found a 43 percent increase in heart attacks for Avandia users. A panel voted to allow the diabetes drug to remain on the market, though the FDA has directed GlaxoSmithKline to initiate a new study to determine long-term cardiovascular risks. The FDA

Avandia Lawsuits

Individuals injured by Avandia may be entitled to receive compensation. Compensation for Avandia-related injuries can be used to pay for medical bills and other expenses, in addition to pain and suffering.

The offices of Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz employ some of the most experienced personal injury lawyers in the nation. They specialize in representing Avandia victims and their families. Contact the attorneys of Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz today at (888) 255-2956 to get additional information regarding your rights and as an Avandia injury victim.