FDA News: Prescription Drug Avandia Stays on Pharmaceutical Market For the Near Future
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Avandia, whose prescription drug generic name is rosiglitazone maleate, has been on the market for 11 years and is popularly prescribed to diabetics. However, Avandia’s safety has been questioned since its approval in 1999.According to the FDA, type 2 diabetes sufferers can still use pharmaceutical Avandia despite the prescription drug’s effects, at least for the time being.
The drug generic rosiglitazone maleate has been linked to heart disease. This is the most worrisome side effect of generic rosiglitazone maleate.
Diabetes patients are unfortunately already at higher risk for heart disease than the average population.
In 2007, 42 studies linked the prescription drug to a 43% increased heart attack risk compared to placebos or other medications. The FDA thus released a warning on the medications packaging, warning of possible congestive heart failure and myocardial ischemia, yet still authorized its prescription.
The FDA has yet to release its final verdict on Avandia’s future. On July 14, 2010 12 members of a 33 member FDA panel voted to ban the drug while 17 recommended continued use of the prescriptions medication, albeit with stricter packaging warnings. If stricter norms are imposed, physicians would undergo training to understand the drug’s risks. Patients would also sign waiver consent forms to ensure they comprehend the risks associated with taking the drug.
Patients currently taking Avandia should discuss with their physician the risks and benefits associated with taking this prescription drug.
