Avandia, or rosiglitazone, is a thiazolidinedione anti-diabetic drug manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline. It is primarily used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Side effects include a possible increased incidence of minor bone fractures.
Recently, drugs containing such as Avandia that contain rosiglitazone have been linked to significantly increased risk of heart attack and other ischemic cardiac events. While increased risk of heart attack is currently listed as a warning on the Avandia label, the FDA is evaluating a number of clinical studies to determine the clinical significance of that risk and what, if any action should be taken.
Avandia, in addition to diet and exercise was supposed to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes. There are currently near 16 million Americans affected by type 2 diabetes. Avandia can be used alone or in combination with a sulfonylurea or metformin, when diet, exercise, and one of these agents or diet, exercise, plus Avandia alone are not enough to control blood sugar. Side effects such as weight gain began early on after taking Avandia.
Name: Avandia
Generic: Rosiglitazone
Manufacturer: GlaxoSmithKline
Date approved: May 25, 1999
Status: Prescription only
Approved uses: Treatment of diabetes
Off-Label uses: Possible benefit to some sufferers of Alzheimer's disease.
Side effects: Weight gain, cough or cold, headache, inflammation of the sinuses, back pain, swelling or fluid retention, increased incidence of bone fractures especially in women, increased risk of cardiac arrest.
