Avandia and Other Glitazones Could Increase Risk of Eye Disorder
You can add yet another medical injury to the long list of risks associated with Avandia – this time it is the increased likelihood of developing an eye disorder called Diabetic Macular Edema (DME). According to studies, people who take a group of anti-diabetes drugs called glitazones, including Avandia, are at a greater risk of contracting the disorder.
Avandia and DME
The research was conducted at the Southern California Permanente Medical Group, and was published in the April issue of the American Journal of Ophthalmology. The study is not the first one suggesting a link between glitazone use and DME, but has confirmed a "modest" association between the two. DME is linked to the accumulation of fluid in the eye and swelling, and may eventually lead to loss of vision.
The study, which was conducted on a total of 996 DME patients, revealed that people who took glitazone-containing drugs, like Avandia, were up to 2.6 times more likely to develop the disorder than those who were not taking the drugs. In fact, the risk of developing DME for glitazone users was up to 68% higher than for non-glitazone users. Avandia contains rosiglitazone, which belongs to the glitazone family.
According to the authors of the study, the safety of a drug is as important is its efficacy in treating a disease. However, current safety evaluations for drugs do not take into account long-term safety because approvals are based on short term clinical drugs. This lack of intensive study could result in the release of a potentially defective pharmaceutical drug into the market. The authors have found enough of a link between DME and glitazone use to advise ophthalmologists treating DME patients to consider glitazone use during diagnosis.
Dangers of Avandia
Recently, a study by the Canadian Medical Association Journal found a link between Avandia and a higher incidence of bone fractures in women. Previous clinical studies have also linked the anti-diabetes drug to chest pain, heart failure, and other heart problems. Medical attorneys have been pursuing lawsuits against GlaxoSmithKline, the company that markets Avandia, for these injuries.
The list of risks associated with Avandia use continues to grow. Eye problems are one of the effects of uncontrolled diabetes which, ironically enough, Avandia is supposed to keep under control. If you are currently taking Avandia, you should consult your doctor about the risks of DME. Your doctor may be able to prescribe a less risky substitute.
If you or a loved one has been injured by the use of Avandia or any other pharmaceutical drug, contact a medical injury attorney at Arnold & Itkin LLP for a free consultation.
