In response to a scientific study due to be published in the June issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning relating to the diabetes medication Avandia. The study, details of which were released before actual publication due to the sensitive and pertinent information it contained, points to a 43% higher risk of heart attack for those taking Avandia compared with those taking other medication for Type 2 diabetes or not taking any such medication. These findings are particularly distressing to the medical community and those taking the drug, as roughly two thirds of those with Type 2 diabetes die from heart problems, meaning that any drug that increases this risk could prove especially dangerous to those patients.

FDA Not Yet Suggesting Avandia Recall

The FDA warning itself does not go so far as to suggest and Avandia recall, but does suggest that any patient taking the diabetic drug Avandia should discuss the recent findings with their doctor to decide on a proper course of action. This suggested course of action was echoed in a statement released by the American Diabetic Association with a group of cardiac doctors. The warning released by the FDA does however state that they are and have been monitoring several heart related Avandia side-effects, including fluid-retention, edema and congestive heart failure. The statement from the FDA also goes on to say that the government agency is currently analyzing data from the recent study in conjunction with several other studies in order to determine what the best medical course of action is for doctors and patients when dealing with Type 2 Diabetes. Still, special caution should be taken for those diabetes patients who may be taking Avandia and Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPH) medication such as Norvasc, or with cholesterol medication such as Atorvastatin, marketed under the brand name Lipitor. No negative link has been shown between Avandia and these drugs, however patients with heart conditions that might necessitate being prescribed such medication should consult with their physicians about the possible increased risk of heart attack possible with Avandia.

Possible Avandia Litigation?

Although at present no Avandia claims have been filed against the drug's manufacturer GlaxoSmithKlein, there have been reports of possible plaintiffs beginning to inquire about legal recourse, given the seeming ramifications of the New England Journal of Medicine study. GlaxoSmithKlein themselves have refuted the findings of the study, but do acknowledge the results of their own study conducted in 2006 and submitted to the FDA, which showed a less significant increased risk of cardiac events associated with Avandia. While it is not immediately apparent if the situation with Avandia will be similar to that of the recalled drug Vioxx, with thousands of patients receiving settlements, anyone who may have experienced cardiac events connected to taking the diabetes medication Avandia should confer with their physician and possibly contact an experienced attorney about the prospect of any Avandia class action suit.