There was a major health news story today regarding those who take the drug Avandia. My spouse takes this drug. Please consult the news source of your choice or speak with your doctor if you take the drug Avandia or in its combination form as Avandamet.

Yikes! I just started taking this about a month ago. It takes 8 -12 weeks before the med actually starts to show any benefits and so far, it hasn't made any difference for me yet, but it has only been 5 weeks. I hope when I see my doctor in a few weeks he will advise me to stop taking it!

:dizzy: I was diagnosed in Dec with T2 diabetes and started Avandia and metformin immediately, plus a low carb diet and cinnamon and chromium.

April 5 I had a heart attack-no warning. Saved only by the Grace of God and the fact that I live 4 blocks from the hospital. I have since been dealing with an allergic reaction to Plavix and the drug eluding stents they had to put in to clear my blocked RCA. I immediately broke out in a severe rash and now all my skin is peeling off.They had to put me on large doses of Prednisone which raised my blood sugars terribly, and gave me shingles.I now have to take a drug with a "black box" warning on it and get blood work every 2 weeks to prevent my stents from clotting off and killing me. The drug that I'm on, Ticlid, causes SEVERE blood disorders that may kill me.Oh, and I was just told I have phlebitis in my hand and arm where they put in my IV over 7 weeks ago!
I called my Dr today and he said DO NOT take Avandia anymore and am starting Januvia tomorrow. I got my post-M.I. echocardiogram today and the tech was alarmed to see fluid around the outside of my heart-(pericardium).
I know that Diabetes and heart attacks are life threatening problems, but I've about had it with "modern medicine" and their pills. Any encouragement out there? I am a first time poster-long time silent reader and am always buoyed by all your support of each other. So sorry about the long post but I am almost at wits end.....

I THANK YOU for your post.

My dad has a hole in his heart from undiagnosed / untreated T2 diabetes. (His fault, 63 years old at the time and hadn't seen a doctor in 5 years...)

He had bypass (after 3 ignored heart attacks) and they attempted to patch the hole (in the septum). Patch only partially took, but he's been doing fairly well.

He's 70 now, his second wife just died. I've assumed the responsibility of calling him (cross-country) every day to ask what his blood-sugar is. So naturally I asked if he was taking Avandia when the news broke. And of course he is. I MADE him call his doctor, he saw him today. Doc says, "The manufacturer hasn't taken any action, the FDA hasn't taken any action - so keep taking Avandia."

Pardon me for thinking that a 70 year old man with a history of heart attacks who has just lost a second wife (less than 6 years after my mom died) doesn't really need a 64% increased risk of DYING from cardiac problems.

I'm venting, I know. I'm a member of the MS board, because I have MS. It is a frustrating, freaky disease that often forces otherwise complacent, compliant people into becoming obnoxious advocates for their own health care. AND MS ISN'T TERMINAL!!! It makes me crazy that a well-documented increase in risk for FATAL complications of a drug fails to illicit more than a single thread here.

I love my dad. I don't want to lose him simply because the economic well-being of a pharmaceutical company "needed" to be considered prior to taking official action.

God bless [the wealthiest 1% of] America...

You go ,girl! It's time we stood up and said "We're mad as h*** and we're NOT going to take it anymore"! We have all become way too complacent in managing our own health care.We all have to start acting as partners, not receivers in our own well being. Ask more questions, research our meds, nag,nag,nag.
I have found an excellent Dr in my little town who listens to me and looks for alternatives and treats me as an equal. I hope you are similarly Blessed..

A few years ago, I was at my old endo's for an appointment. Everything looked good, but he wanted me to start to take a new drug he said was beneficial to diabetics. I'm a Type 1.5, on insulin and not a pill taker if not at all necessary. I questioned him, and I told him I would get back to him after I looked at the scientific study he was telling me about. I read the study, and I saw it was sponsored and run by the drug manufacturer. There were no independent clinical studies conducted. I called him back and told him that I wouldn't be taking the new drug as I saw it unnecessary medication. Yes, I do think drug companies push products that may be questionable and doctors who are all too willing and a government agency that may be lax. The next time you are at your doctor's office, look around. There is bound to be a drug rep there waiting with their samples and such. Or, try watching something on TV one night without the mini-series commercials every 15 minutes promoting a new drug...sometimes for diseases I never heard of.....

A few years ago, I was at my old endo's for an appointment. Everything looked good, but he wanted me to start to take a new drug he said was beneficial to diabetics. I'm a Type 1.5, on insulin and not a pill taker if not at all necessary. I questioned him, and I told him I would get back to him after I looked at the scientific study he was telling me about. I read the study, and I saw it was sponsored and run by the drug manufacturer. There were no independent clinical studies conducted. I called him back and told him that I wouldn't be taking the new drug as I saw it unnecessary medication. Yes, I do think drug companies push products that may be questionable and doctors who are all too willing and a government agency that may be lax. The next time you are at your doctor's office, look around. There is bound to be a drug rep there waiting with their samples and such. Or, try watching something on TV one night without the mini-series commercials every 15 minutes promoting a new drug...sometimes for diseases I never heard of.....


The drug companies give "perks" to the doctors who prescribe their medications. Free vacations and "conferences" in the tropics are two of the incentives for the doctors to agree to write scripts for new meds. The pharmaceutical companies have ways to detect which doctors are prescribing their drugs and then dole out the rewards accordingly.
I had a bladder infection and Bactrim had always worked. I went to the dr and she prescribed a new medication. I thought nothing of it; then I developed a fever and it started to go into my kidneys. I swear she looked SO embarrassed & guilty and prescribed Bactrim. I quickly recovered.