CNN news: Senate Finance Committee released a report on Saturday, stating that Avandia, a diabetes drug, is associated with tens of thousands of heart attacks. The drug maker, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) was aware of the cardiac risks and kept them from the public.
Rosiglitazone, as know as, Avandia, was introduced in 1999 and has been widely used as monotherapy or in fixed-dose combination with either metformin (Avandamet, GSK) or glimpiride (Avadaryl, GSK) for treating type II diabetes. Rosiglitazone is an agonist for peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-g). Avandia increases insulin sensitivity, reduces circulating insulin levels, and improves glycemic control in diabetic patients. Another PPAR agonist, troglitazone, was removed from the market because of its toxicity effects on liver. It is not surprising that Avandia has cardiac toxicity since peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor gamma is involved in multiple signal transduction pathways.
The other possible side effects of Avandia include:
- Upper respiratory infection.
- Broken bones in women
- Headache
- Edema (swelling or water weight gain)
- Back pain
- Anemia
Medications often associate with some unwanted side effects. Drugs are approved due to greater benefits than the health risks in some classes of patients. A good example is anti-cancer drugs; most of small molecule anti-cancer drugs are toxic to cells. They are approved because they can prolong life.
Some of side effects are caused by drug-drug interaction in patients who are taking multiple medicines in a regular base. Patients need to read the labels and review the available info carefully. Talk to doctors or pharmacists to know your medications, and to have better control of your own health.
Prevention of diabetes is far more effective than any of the medications. Reduce sugar consumption, eat balance diet and keep moving.
Avandia information (RxList.com)
Avandia News (NY times)
