Avandia Diabetes Treatment - Latest Info About FDA Restriction On Use Of Drug

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced its decision to restrict the use of the diabetes drug Avandia (rosiglitazone) to patients with Type 2 diabetes who are unable to control their diabetes using any other medications. This decision was made by the FDA following the results of studies which indicated that the use of Avandia could significantly increase the susceptibility of users to heart attacks and strokes.

Diabetes patients who are currently receiving treatment with Avandia, and have shown significant improvement in their condition following the use of the drug, may continue their use of the drug if they wish to.

Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D., the FDA Commissioner, commented on this decision of the FDA to restrict the use of Avandia: “The FDA is taking this action today to protect patients, after a careful effort to weigh benefits and risks. We are seeking to strike the right balance to support clinical care.” Avandia, which is manufactured by the global pharmaceuticals giant, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), belongs to a class of drugs which are known as thiazolidinediones (TZDs) which are generally used in conjunction with diet and exercise in order to improve glucose (blood sugar) control in patients who suffer from Type 2 diabetes mellitus.