FDA finds congestive heart failure in Avandia patients

The Director of the Diabetes Care Center at the University of North Carolina, Dr. John Buse, sent a letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2000 warning that SmithKline Beecham, the company that would later merge with Glaxo to become GSK, mishandled clinical trial data that that showed Avandia may increase a patient’s risk of heart attack by as much as 50 percent. Buse recently testified that GSK threatened him with a lawsuit after he criticized Avandia at a medical meeting (New York Times, June 7, 2007).

In 2002, according to consumer group Public Citizen, the FDA found 25 cases of Avandia patients who developed congestive heart failure while on Avandia. In most cases, the heart failure improved when the patient was taken off Avandia (Public Citizen, May 22, 2007).

Avandia may raise heart attack risk more than 40 percent

On May 21, 2007, a study by Dr. Steven Nissen of the Cleveland Clinic published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that the diabetes drug Avandia may raise a patient’s risk of heart attack by as much as 43 percent and the risk of death by heart attack or other cardiovascular event by 64 percent (New York Times, May 21, 2007). Within one day of the report, evidence came to light that the drug’s manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), may have known about the risks of its product as early as 2000. Did GSK fail to warn patients about the risks of taking Avandia? Why has there not been an Avandia recall in the United States?

Call an Avandia Lawyer Today – Free Call, No Obligation

If you or someone you love has been taking Avandia to control diabetes and have experienced high blood pressure, edema (swelling), congestive heart failure, heart attack, or other adverse cardiovascular events, the FDA is urging you to contact your healthcare provider to consider other options to control your diabetes. Contact our personal injury law firm today. A consultation with a product liability lawyer may be in your best interest. If GlaxoSmithKline knew that the risks of taking Avandia were more dangerous than it claimed, you may be entitled to compensation for the injuries you may have suffered as a result. Our lawyers are investigating the circumstances of these cases. Your information will be reviewed by a product liability lawyer who may be able to help you gain compensation from an Avandia lawsuit.

Medical Advice Disclaimer

The consumer health information content on this site is for informational and marketing purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. THE SITE DOES NOT OFFER MEDICAL ADVICE, AND NOTHING CONTAINED IN THE CONTENT IS INTENDED TO CONSTITUTE PROFESSIONAL ADVICE FOR MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS OR TREATMENT. You should not use the site to diagnose a health or fitness problem or disease.

Use of the site does not replace medical consultation with qualified health or medical professionals. Never disregard the medical advice of a physician or health professional, or delay in seeking such advice, because of something you read on any website, including this one. You should promptly seek professional medical care if you have any concern about your health, and you should always consult your physician before starting a fitness regimen or altering the dosage or schedule of any medications you may take. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.

The content on this site is presented in a summary fashion and is not intended to be, and should not be interpreted as, a recommendation for a specific treatment plan, product, course of action, or medical or healthcare provider. We do not endorse any product or service referenced on the site.

The site may contain, or link to, health- or medical-related materials that are sexually explicit. If you find these materials offensive, you may not want to use the site. The site and the content are provided on an “as is” basis.

Reliance on any information provided by productsthathurt.com or other visitors to the site is solely at your own risk.