An Avandia lawyer can help

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) on May 21, 2007 shows that diabetics  actually may do more harm than good by using leading medication Avandia. "Effect of Rosiglitazone [Avandia] on the Risk of Myocardial Infarction and Death from Cardiovascular Causes" is a retrospective study investigating signs of heart attacks and other cardiovascular events in patients using Avandia.

With this in mind, you may need an Avandia lawyer from Jim S. Adler & Associates to seek compensation for your Avandia heart attack via an Avandia lawsuit.

The researchers only looked at Avandia studies that met three conditions: the study had to take place over 24 weeks or more, the study had to have a group that took a placebo only (a “control” group)  and the study had to have recorded data regarding cardiovascular events. Of the 116 possibly-relevant Avandia studies the researchers found, 42 met these conditions.

The researchers identified 158 cases of heart attack among the participants in all clinical trials, 61 of which resulted in death. By comparing the number of “cardiovascular events” among those taking Avandia versus the placebo group, the study found that taking Avandia raised the risk of heart attack by 30-40%. The irony is that diabetics are generally at higher risk for a heart attack; Avandia was designed to prevent heart attack and other health complications brought on with diabetes by treating the chronic disease itself.

In an editorial published in the same issue of the NEJM, Drs. Bruce M. Psaty and Curt D. Furberg note that the data is not conclusive for several reasons including the small sample size, the fact that the studies reviewed were not necessarily looking for safety data, and that the studies were not generally long term. However, this underlines what the NEJM and other scientists have been saying for years: that drug companies like GlaxoKlineSmith (the maker of Avandia) need to spend more time evaluating the safety of the drugs they produce and sell.

“Insofar as the findings… represent a valid estimate of the risk of cardiovascular events, [Avandia] represents a major failure of the drug-use and drug-approval processes in the United States,” the editorial states. Part of the problem may be the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) itself, but ultimately the responsibility for the safety and effectiveness of each drug remains with the manufacturer.

If you or a loved one has experienced heart attack or other cardiovascular conditions while taking Avandia, contact Jim S. Adler & Associates as soon as possible. We may be able to help you get a fair settlement to cover your hospital and doctor bills and any lost wages, and compensate you for your pain and suffering. The fact that Avandia may actually increase the risk of one of the health conditions it is trying to prevent – and the fact that its maker GlaxoKlineSmith didn’t warn you about it – may be seen as negligence in a court of law.

Contact an Avandia attorney with Jim S. Adler & Associates today. The law firm offers a free case review, which you can submit by calling or by going online, in either case giving us details of your Avandia-related heart attack. Contact a personal injury lawyer with Jim S. Adler & Associates today.