This new warning, while significant, does not have anything directly to do with the recent dust up over Avandia. That recent controversy regards another, entirely different potential problem with Avandia - the possibility that the drug increases the risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack) and cardiac death. (You can read about this new controversy here.)
Keep this distinction in mind as you peruse news reports over the next day or two. It is likely that reports will confuse the two issues regarding Avandia. Again - the new warning is related to a side effect that has been well-known and well-described for several years, and the warning amounts to placing a new emphasis on this side effect. (The FDA deemed it necessary to do take this action because many doctors apparently have been ignoring the known problem, and prescribing Avandia and Actos to patients with heart failure.)
Whether Avandia also causes heart attacks and increases the risk of cardiac death remains an issue in hot contention. (See earlier posts on this blog.) The possibility that the drug may also have these side effects is NOT the reason for this new black box warning, and the FDA's action today does not in any way clarify this more recent controversy. Unless the news media keeps this straight, the FDA's action will likely result in even more controversy and confusion. Keep the above distinction in mind, and you will not become one of the confused.
I am glad they are finally doing this.
I wish that the FDA removes these two drugs from the market. My brother, who was not having any problems, almost went into congestive heart failure. He was on Avandia for years and was developing many different symptoms that no one associated with Avandia. He was taken off and all the symptoms disappeared. He had heart tests and thank goodness, they were all good. I tried Avandia for one month and it effected my leg muscles so bad, I couldn’t walk. Then I was switched after another 1 1/2 months to Actos and within 2 months my feet, ankles and calves swelled to 2 1/2 times their size. Never did I have water retention and this was documented
with my doctor from all the years I have been with him. I gained 26 pounds which I am still trying to get off. My leg muscle pain returned and I took myself off and notified my doctor. The leg muscle pain is gone and my feet, ankles and calves have returned to normal. Still battling the weight I put on. I say that anyone on these two pills should really keep an eye out for unusual things going wrong that they didn’t have before. Tell your doctor.
My husband took Avandia for 15 months. At age 52 he died suddenly due to a heart attack. He did suffer from many of the side affects, what we did not know was how serious they were. I miss him so much!
My husband took Actos three weeks and had a fatal myocardial infarction and had never had any heart problems….Just a change in medication from Glucophage to Actos for diabetes. If there is any doubt this drug should be pulled from the shelves….The doctor had told him he had the heart of a 20 year old…He was 76…I am devastated.
After 1yr on Actos my LDL went from 256 to 150,total cholesterol 337 to 222 (without statins),A1c from 5.6 to 4.6 triglycerides from 101 to 87. Even though I have results in defense of Actos, I don’t believe any one medication is right for all people.
I was on actos for a almost a year and I start notice I was gaing weight excessively and couldn’t figure out why. I would tell my doctor that I wasn’t eating any difference and then I saw the warning about actos and demanded that I be taken off that medicine immediately. I also had a lot of leg pain. My doctor took me off.
just can’t quite understand if this warning is just for avandia…or does it apply to actos too??
While taking Avandia and Actos I developed severe lymphedema in my legs. This raised blood pressure and could have caused a heart attack. The lymph system is permanently damaged. I need compression garments that cost $400 a pair. There is no history of this condition in my family history and it all developed while on these drugs!
My boyfriend recentloy had to have kidney dialsis because he devolped phnemonia and had asatosis while taking this med and he was also on its sister drug before avandia, and he has had congestive heart falurie both time its very scary feet and legs swell as well as abdomem and they become disorented.
Not all drugs work for all people. I’ve been on Actos for over six years with no side effects. My symphathies and prayers for those who the drug didn’t work, but please, it’s incredibly effective for me.
My DR put me on Actos and it caused my glucose to drop suddenly. I would become disoriented. It got to where i was aftraid to be alone.. I asked him to take me off of it, but he said, “lets try it for 3 more months” I didnt want to. but reluctantly agreed. During that 3 months, my legs and feet swelled horribly and my glucose kept dropping unexpectedly. I reallt felt weak and had no energy. At th eend of the 3 months, I told him I was not taking it anymore. That was 2 yrs ago, My symptoms have cleared up, no swelling in my feet and legs, and my energey level is back to normal. I would NOT advise anyone to take this drug.
I was taking several oral meds with A1C at 8.3. Dr started me on Lantus…no difference. Tried orals plus Novolog 70/30…not much change. Added actos…blood sugar dropped significantly. I had to reduce from 25 units of Novolog to 12 and now take about 8. Nothing seemed to work very well until I took the actos. My body responded very well to Actos. A1C at 7.0 and hope to get it lower. I admit, I have gained about 9 lbs in the 6 months I have taken Actos but my diat has not changed. The weight is the only negative result I have noticed.
My Dr. put me on Actos several years ago. My sugars got better but I gained weight and had muscle cramps. The Dr has increased my dosage three times since beginning. I didn’t take Actos for three months and the leg pains went away, I lost 30 pounds, but my sugar A1c got worse. I began taking Actos again and I’ve gained the 26 pounds back without change in diet and the leg cramps are back, but my A1c is better. What do I do now?
I am almost 80 years old.
I have been taken Actos for at least
ten years. I have never been in
better control of my blood glucose,
my HDL, and my Triglycerides.
I do not take statins and my diet is
and my diet is less than magnificent
for a diabetic.
All prescribed drugs are POISONs and all
those have side effects and may even
cause death. Even Aspirin can kill a person.
Yeah, some doctors are also LESS THAN MAGNIFICENT,
but when you spot one, look at your list
of providers in your insurance booklet and move on
to the next one until you find one that you think
is better qualified to keep you alive.
Ultimately, one will croak and to place the blame on
some pill may be a lot of nonsense. Best thing to
do if you are at the end of your longevity is go to church
and put yourself in a state of grace and be ready to meet
our maker.
If you are a Atheist, no matter what you do, you will
end up in the same place.
Doc Rio
ive been type 2 diabetic for 20 years. started on rezulin, then avandia, then actos. june 14 told i had silent heart attack. had cABG operation june 15 for five blocked arteries. now on januvia, starlix, lantus and humulog. whats next? am i in a experimental clinical study!!!