Avandia causes new problems?
Posted by
Lauren EllermanDecember 03, 2007 9:03 AMAbout six months ago, there was a deluge of articles and news features on the dangers of Avandia, a medication most often prescribed to diabetics. The news then, was that Avandia caused or contributed to heart problems.
Well, as they say, the more things change, the more things stay the same.
Today, researching are reporting the medication may also contribute to bone loss, or osteoporosis.
As the National Institute of Health report reflects, long-term treatment with Avandia is also called, could lead to osteoporosis.
As the Washington Post reports, "GlaxoSmithKline, which markets the drug, already has acknowledged that a study found a higher risk of fractures among women who take the drug. But this report is the first to attempt to explain the link between the drug and fractures."
"The assumption had been that more brittle bones in diabetics were the result of a reduced bone-building activity, not increased bone removal."
"Considering the widespread use of these drugs and the known action in people it is surprising that such a key observation had been missed," he said.
"The long-term use of rosiglitazone should be cautious in patients with higher risk of fractures such as older women," he added. Using it in combination with anti-osteoporosis drugs could be beneficial, he said.
Again, more research, more bad news and conflicting data. Bottom line, no medication is free from side-effects, so proceed with care!
For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Drugs, Medical Devices, and Implants.