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Medical Malpractice Attorneys Serving Stamford, Connecticut and Danbury, Connecticut.

Avandia Heart Risks

In May 2007, the New England Journal of Medicine published a report revealing the heart risks associated with taking Avandia. Soon after, the Food and Drug Administration issued a safety alert detailing those risks—which include heart attack and heart-related death—and encouraging high-risk patients to discuss alternative treatment options with their healthcare provider. The risks, while seemingly new, were actually known by the FDA and GlaxoSmithKline, Avandia’s maker, as early as 2000. However, the public was never alerted to the drug’s dangers because of "uncertainties," and as a result, millions of diabetes patients were prescribed this potentially deadly drug.

Contact us today to speak with attorney about your legal rights and options if you or someone you love has been injured by Avandia.

A Drug With Risks

In addition to heart attack and heart-related death, Avandia has also been associated with:

Congestive heart failure, edema, and fluid retention
Liver toxicity
Low blood pressure

The risk of potentially fatal heart problems was first documented in 2000, when Dr. John B. Buse, chief of endocrinology at the University of North Carolina, sent a letter to the FDA stating that the leading Type 2 diabetes treatment was "a worrisome trend in cardiovascular deaths and severe adverse events."

Later, Dr. Steven E. Nissen, a leading cardiologist, voiced concerns over the safety of Avandia. According to Dr. Nissen, patients with Type 2 diabetes face a 20.2 percent chance of having a heart attack during a seven-year period but Avandia increases that risk to 28.9 percent. He has since estimated that thousands of Avandia users have suffered heart problems as a result of taking the drug.

The NEJM article published in 2007 estimated the risk of heart attack to be 30 to 40 percent higher in patients taking Avandia than in patients treated with another diabetes drug or placebo.

What You Need to Know About Avandia

Since its approval in 1999 for treatment of Type 2 diabetes, an estimated 10 million Americans have taken Avandia. In fact, it was once considered a safer alternative to other diabetes drugs and quickly became the world’s top-selling diabetes drug.

Despite its popularity, Avandia carries significant risks and patients who have suffered harm as a result may be entitled to financial reimbursement. To learn more about recovering your losses from an experienced attorney, contact us today. We’ll evaluate your case FREE of charge, answer your questions, and ensure your rights are protected.

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