Prescription Drug Causes Heart Problems
In a recent New York Times article, the prescription drug Avandia was cited for causing heart problems in patients taking the medication. Avandia, commonly used for Type 2 Diabetes, was implicated in over 300 deaths in 2009. Also known as, Rosiglitazone, Avandia is also responsible for hundreds of heart attacks and heart failures.
Beware of Side Effects
It is not uncommon for patients to take a quick glance at the listed side effects for a prescription and use the drug simply because their doctor told them to. Not all patients speak to their doctor or pharmacist about the risks and if they outweigh the benefits.
The Food and Drug Administration or “FDA” has been continuously investigating the risks of Avandia, which is manufactured by the drug giant GlaxoSmithKline. The FDA and lawmakers are in a hot and heavy controversy about its use, especially since a safer drug, Actos, is available without the same side effects.
The major controversy surrounding Avandia began in 2007 when a cardiologist from the Cleveland Clinic reported that patients taking the drug sustained heart problems. The FDA warned consumers and medical professionals, thus causing sales to decrease sharply. Avandia was noted as a cause of heart problems in studies dating back to 1999. However, as one of the highest selling medications in the world, it was never pulled from the shelves.
The Senate joined the Avandia debate, claiming that GlaxoSmithKline and the FDA did not move quickly enough to investigate the drug hazards and warn patients of the risks. Unfortunately, it has taken the 2009 deaths to make the FDA and Senate sit up, take notice of the impending harm to patients and try to correct the problem.
If you or a family member has experienced any Avandia heart-related issues and are still taking the drug, report the condition to your doctor and pharmacist immediately. Keep detailed accounts of your conversations and medical records in case you decide to seek restitution from the drug manufacturer or the prescribing physician in the future.
Monheit is the managing lawyer at Monheit Law, outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He has practiced law since 1989. Michael Monheit was the managing attorney of the law offices of Herbert Monheit — now Silverman and Fodera — a firm founded by... Michael Monheit→
