July 30, 2007. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been advised to allow the diabetes drug, Avandia, to remain on the shelves. The FDA heard from an advisory committee today who reviewed the current data on the drug and voted 22-1 that even though the drug may increase the risk of heart attacks, it should not be removed from the market.

Instead, the committee’s panelists voted 20-3 that the warning labels should be updated and that additional studies should be done, including studying the effects of a substitute drug Actos, manufactured by Takeda Pharmaceuticals. While the recommendations of the advisory committee are non-binding, the FDA usually follows the advice given in these types of actions. The FDA has yet to comment on the recommendations.

What is Avandia?

Avandia, also known as Rosiglitazone, is a diabetic drug that came on the market approximately eight years ago. Since then, nearly six million people have prescribed to it. It is used by those who have Type 2 diabetes, the most common form of diabetes, which affects nearly 18 million Americans and 200 million people worldwide.

Diabetes is a leading cause of coronary heart disease, blindness, kidney failure and limb amputation. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body cannot make enough insulin or effectively use the insulin that the body can make. Insulin assists the body metabolize sugar for energy and Avandia was created to help the body maintain adequate blood sugar control.

Sales of Avandia were nearly $3 billion in 2006, but have plummeted since the New England Journal of Medicine published a study in May claiming that the drug may increase the risk of heart attacks by 43 percent.

What to do if you are taking Avandia

If you are taking Avandia, it is important to talk with your doctor about the health risks associated with the drug. Health experts discussing the matter on CNN today cautioned users of the drug to not stop taking the medication without replacing it with a similar drug. They explained that while the risk of a heart attack is present while on the drug, the risk of not being on any medication may be worse.

If you’ve experienced heart issues while taking Avandia, contact an attorney whose practice focuses in this area of law. To contact an attorney near you, click here.