FDA Restricts Another Diabetes Drug

September 27th, 2010

Though a figure close 600,000 take the drug, The Food and Drug Administration have ordered a decision to restrict the widespread distribution for the prescribed diabetes medication Avandia. The FDA’s decision stems from a study in 2007 that showed a 43 percent increase in heart attacks for Avandia users. After more deliberate research, The FDA has decided to restrict the use solely for those suffering from type 2 diabetes and cannot treat their illness by any other means. The FDA cited the heart risks as a main reason.

Following The FDA’s decision to restrict the drug, the European Medicines Agency followed suit and took it one step further by suspending the drug for marketing in Europe.

 

Originally approved in 1999 and widely prescribed in 2006, Avandia assists in lowering blood sugar levels by increasing the sensitivity of liver, fat and muscle cells to insulin, which in turn allows the cells to effectively remove sugar out of the blood. For substituting for Avandia, some doctors have suggested some alternates for the drug, including Metformin, Pioglitazone, DPP-4 inhibitors, or even diet and exercise.