Avandia Increases Risk to Type 2 Diabetics

In a recent study by Toronto’s Clinical Evaluative Sciences, the drug Avandia (rosiglitazone) demonstrated an increased risk of heart failure and death when compared to the other drug for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, Actos (pioglitazone).

As published in the British Medical Journal, the study examined the records of 40 000 patients treated with these drugs; 23% were less likely to be hospitalized for heart failure and 14% less likely to die when given Actos (pioglitazone) instead of Avandia (rosiglitazone). This has major implications for the millions of patients treated for Type 2 diabetes in the last several years. Based on the study, for every 120 people taking Avandia, one more was hospitalized and for every 269 people, one would die.

The makers of Avandia, GlaxoSmithKiline, have initiated their own study in response. The results will not be known for several years probably after the two drugs become available as generic formulas.

Dr. Juurlink, principal investigator, has dismissed criticisms from GlaxoSmithKline that the study may have only dealt with patients who were sicker. He points out that you would expect to see more heart attacks if the patients taking Avandia were sicker yet the study revealed that there was no difference in heart attack rates between the two groups.

As Dr. Steven Nissen, chair of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic, has said, “I guess the final word would be: Who would want to take the chance? Why would you? So from my perspective while you can argue that it may not end the story, in the meantime, what should physicians do? And I think the answer is they should use the safer of the two drugs.”