Parker, Waichman, Alonso LLP

Home » Topics » Defective Drugs » Avandia

Avandia Bone Fracture &  Heart Attacks Attorneys

Avandia patients have been known to experience a higher-than-normal rate of bone fractures.  In December 2007, researchers doing experiments with mice discovered a possible reason for this Avandia side effect.   Avandia appears to throw the body’s system for removing and replacing old bone cells off balance in two important ways.   In addition to inhibiting the action of osteoblasts, cells in the body that build bone, researchers also discovered that Avandia  stimulates the action of osteoclasts, cells that degrade bone.  The Avandia researchers, whose work was published in the December 2007 issue of Nature Medicine, surmised that the medication’s effect on these cells could account for Avandia’s bone fracture side effects.  While there are medications available to counter the Avandia bone fracture risk, the authors of the December 2007 study recommended that all Avandia patients be monitored for bone problems.

About Avaindia and It's Side Effects
Avandia, manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline is a newer class of diabetes drugs called thiazolidinediones or glitazones, which increase the body's sensitivity to insulin. The FDA approved Avandia on May 25, 1999.

The American Heart Association and American Diabetes Association issued recommendations to guide the use of Avandia, a glucose-lowering drugs and other as thiazolidinediones (TZDs). Diabetics who have mild heart disease or any problems with their kidneys may be at an increased risk of developing congestive heart failure if they take certain diabetes medications, according to a new study.

The study, published in the September 9, 2003 issue of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings, reported on six cases of congestive heart failure in people taking Avandia to help control their diabetes. The researchers studied the records of six men, between the ages of 66 and 78 years, with Type-II diabetes who had gone to the emergency room at Dallas Veterans Affairs Medical Center emergency room.

All six patients complained of shortness of breath, swelling of their feet, and weight gain, which are symptoms of congestive heart failure and pulmonary edema (fluid buildup in the lungs). Congestive heart failure occurs when the heart can no longer pump enough blood to maintain adequate circulation. Because the heart doesn't pump properly, fluid often builds up in the lungs.

Four of the six people in this study had chronic renal insufficiency, which means that their kidneys weren't functioning normally. Only two had any previous signs of heart disease. Four of the six had high blood pressure. They had been on the diabetes medications for between one month and 16 months. Three people developed symptoms within one to three months after the dose of their diabetes drug had been increased.

The FDA and GlaxoSmithKline said on January 5, 2006 that patients who have taken Avandia reported blurry vision and swelling of the feet and legs. More than 6 million people worldwide have been prescribed Avandia.

GlaxoSmithKline stated they received very rare reports of new or worsening diabetic macular edema in diabetic patients who took Avandia. The swelling of the retina can cause blurry or distorted vision. Additionally, most of those patients also reported peripheral edema, or swelling of the legs, ankles and feet, according to a letter GlaxoSmithKline sent during December 2005 to doctors. In some situations, stopping treatment or reducing the dose eliminated or improved the condition, the letter added.

If you or a loved one took Avandia and suffered side effects including bone fractures and or a heart attacks, please fill out the form at the right for a free case evaluation by a Avanadia lawsuit lawyer.