Avandia Lawsuits

In May of 2007, the New England Journal of Medicine published the startling news that Avandia, a popular drug designed to control Type II Diabetes, substantially increases patients’ risk of serious heart problems.

The study found that patients taking Avandia increased their risk of heart attacks by 43 percent and their risk of death from heart disease by up to 64 percent. This news is especially disturbing because diabetes itself already raises its victims’ risk of serious heart disease substantially. Two of three diabetics die of cardiovascular problems, according to the American Diabetes Association. According to a report by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Avandia has caused at least 83,000 “excess” heart attacks since it entered the market.

In response to the Journal’s report, the FDA ordered GlaxoSmithKline, Avandia’s manufacturer, to include a “black box” safety warning on the drug’s label. The FDA did not order a recall, nor did GlaxoSmithKline recall Avandia voluntarily. However, the FDA’s May 2007 safety warning said GlaxoSmithKline’s own analysis -- provided only after the Journal’s report -- found that Avandia raised patients’ risk of heart attack by 30 to 40 percent. And a medical expert on diabetes testified to Congress that Avandia’s manufacturer threatened to sue him when he called attention to heart problems among Avandia users.

The risk of heart attack or heart-related death among Avandia users is greatest in patients who are already being treated for heart failure or at high risk of heart problems. The drug is also not recommended for people with liver disease or pregnant or nursing women. The FDA suggests that these patients speak to their doctors about finding another way to control their blood-sugar levels. However, there is a risk even for patients without these conditions. Patients taking Avandia are advised to call a doctor immediately if they notice any of these symptoms:

• Decreased or blurry vision
• Retaining fluid, especially in the legs and ankles, or an unusually rapid weight gain
• Shortness of breath
• Unusual fatigue
• Very low blood sugar

At the time of the announcement, Avandia was used by about 1 million of the estimated 20 million Type II diabetics in the United States, generating a total of $2.2 billion in sales in 2006. Since these serious safety concerns about the drug have emerged, however, many patients have stopped taking Avandia and sales have fallen. And in the face of growing evidence that GlaxoSmithKline knew about the safety risks of Avandia well before they were made public, thousands of patients and their loved ones have considered filing an Avandia lawsuit in order to publicize Avandia’s risks, win compensation for a wrongful death, medical bills or serious health problems, or remove this dangerous drug from the market.

Have you or a loved one experienced serious heart problems, liver problems or other serious health problems while taking Avandia? Talk to us. An Avandia lawsuit could be in your future.

Please fill out the form below to see if you have an Avandia case.

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AVANDIA INFORMATION
Dates you took Avandia	January February March April May June July August September October November December 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1917 1916 1915 1914 1913 1912 1911 1910 1909 1908 1907 1906 1905 1904 1903 1902 1901 To January February March April May June July August September October November December 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1917 1916 1915 1914 1913 1912 1911 1910 1909 1908 1907 1906 1905 1904 1903 1902 1901
Side Effects from Avandia:	Heart Attack Congestive Heart Failure Macular Edema Stroke Liver Complications PPH / Valve problems Other
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