Avandia: Drug Dangers

Baltimore, Maryland

As more prescription errors come under fire for their harmful side effects, it is important that patients and consumers stay familiar with drug names and the dangers faced by taking them.

What is Avandia?

Avandia (rosiglitazone) is an anti-diabetic drug produced by the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline. It is used to treat Type 2 or Adult Onset Diabetes. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved it in 1999 to help manage and lower blood sugar.

More than 13 million U.S. patients were taking Avandia in 2006. However, in 2008, strong concerns about the side effects of Avandia began to pervade mainstream media and the healthcare community. Soon after, the number of people taking Avandia dropped down to 5 million users.

The New England Journal of Medicine published a study on how Avandia increased the risk of heart attack by a staggering 40 percent in most patients. Even the FDA has been forced to acknowledge links between Avandia and several deadly complications including heart attacks and liver failure.

What are the Complications?

The complications linked to Avandia are severe -- liver failure and heart failure being two of them.

Warning signs of liver problems while taking Avandia:

• Vomiting and nausea
• Abdominal pain
• Decreased appetite
• Severe exhaustion
• Jaundice (yellow eyes or skin)
• Dark and discolored urine

Warning signs of heart failure while taking Avandia:

• Pain in the chest
• Shallow breathing
• Difficulty inhaling full breaths
• Quick and unexplained weight gain
• Quick and unexplained weight loss
• Swelling associated fluid retention

Lawsuits Against Prescription Drug Companies

Legal action has already been taken against GlaxoSmithKline, the makers of Avandia. Shareholders and consumers are holding the company accountable based on indications that neglect and misinformation took place on their part. A 2007 hearing revealed that GlaxoSmithKline and the FDA knew about the heart attack risk as early as 2005.

Defective Drugs

The challenge of confronting a billion-dollar industry should be handled by lawyers who have vast knowledge and experience in such cases. The Yost Group has experienced lawyers who are not afraid to face down major corporations on behalf of our clients.

If you have experienced the ill effects of taking Avandia, please contact The Yost Legal Group to schedule a consultation for Avandia drug dangers.