Avandia Increases Cardiac Related Deaths by 64%

By Nick Johnson

You may be one of 6 million patients worldwide who have been diagnosed with Type II diabetes and prescribed Avandia to help control your blood sugar. Avandia was approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1999 and has now been recently required to carry a "black-box" warning. This is the most serious warning for a prescription drug. Avandia symptoms increase risk of heart attack or myocardial infraction, especially if the patient has had previous underlying heart disease.

Type II diabetes, also known as non-insulin dependent diabetes, is the most common form of the condition. Diabetes is a serious disease and occurs in people of all ages and races, but some have a higher risk for developing diabetes than others. Therefore, you may notice that any Avandia symptoms you contract are also more severe. Diabetes is more common in African-American, Latino, American Indian, and Asian populations. Some 20 million children and adults in the United States have diabetes. Type II diabetes accounts for up to 95% of all diabetes cases.

More than 6 million diabetic patients worldwide are taking the prescription Avandia. The New England Journal of Medicine, issued in June 2007, stated that Avandia symptoms of cardiovascular-related problems increased by 43% and cardiac death by 64%.

GlaxoSmithKline, the drug manufacturer, continues to stand on the safety of Avandia. This is only a fraction of the $3.2 billion annual sales worldwide from the prescription drug. Glaxo issued a stricter warning label and news release to defend itself, saying it was much too soon to establish a relation between Avandia and cardiovascular problems in Type II diabetic patients.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) conducted its own safety review on Avandia symptoms of cardiovascular heart problems. They concluded that Avandia cannot afford the same margin of safety as other drugs. Therefore, they chose not to prescribe Avandia to their patients. Based on this decision, it is estimated that Avandia prescriptions fell by 60%. In fact, Glaxo has also gained a bad reputation for dishonesty.

Some Avandia symptoms to look for include rapid heartbeat, anemia, swelling, inexplicable rapid weight gain, breathing problems, unusual fatigue, dark urine, yellowing eyes/skin, persistent nausea/vomiting, pain in the abdominal area, worsened hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia, vision problems, pulmonary edema, pleural effusion, and in worse cases heart attack, heart failure or stroke. Avandia symptoms that may indicate an allergic reaction are rash, itching, swelling, dizziness, and breathing problems.

If you or a loved one have suffered any such Avandia symptoms, contact an expert Avandia lawyer to help give you the compensation you deserve for your pain and suffering. Your lawyer is expected to charge contingency fees, which will help lighten your overall burden in that this is a cost that depends on the success of the case.

About the Author: Nick Johnson is lead counsel with Johnson Law Group. Johnson represents plaintiffs in many states and focuses on injury cases involving Fen-Phen and PPH, Paxil, Mesothelioma, and Avandia. Call Nick Johnson at 1-888-311-5522 or visit http://www.johnsonlawgroup.com