Avandia Increases Risk of Heart Attack

Shannon Weidemann

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A new study being published by the Journal of American Medical Association has found the a patients risks of heart failure and heart attack is increased when taking the diabetes drug Avandia. The stude was done by researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Avandia was required by the FDA in August to begin carrying a strict "black box" warning label.

"The risk of heart failure was known but not the magnitude. A doubling of risk is substantial," Singh added. "One in 30 patients taking rosiglitazone (Avandia) over a year will have heart failure, that's very substantial. And one in 220 will have a heart attack. That's also very substantial." Patients should talk to their doctors about the potential risks and benefits of the drug, Singh said.

Avandia is made by GlaxoSmithKline and is used by over 3.5 Million Americans. The study was done by analyzing data from over 14,000 patients. Some doctors are calling for more studies of the drug and its effects.

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