New Yorkers Need to Know About Possible Heart Attack Risks of Avandia

Your doctor may have prescribed a medication, known as Avandia, to treat your diabetes. It probably never occurred to you that this prescription could cause you physical harm, but reports have shown that it can lead to heart attack risks. In February 2010, the Senate stated that the drug maker, GlaxoSmithKline, knew of these possible risks years before the evidence became public.

Unfortunately, people in New York are often the victims of harmful drugs. These dangerous medications can lead to serious complications and even death. It is important to understand that if you have been hurt by a defective drug in New York, you do have rights and may be able to pursue compensation from the drug manufacturer.

Avandia Risks
Back in 2007, the New England Journal of Medicine, published an analysis of numerous studies that included close to 28,000 patients who had taken Avandia. According to the journal, the risk of heart attack for people taking Avandia was 43 percent higher than people taking other diabetes drugs or no diabetes medication. These findings were alarming, as people with Type 2 diabetes often die of heart problems.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) estimated that Avandia caused 83,000 heart attacks between 1999 and 2007. The FDA ordered that a warning be included on the drug’s label in 2007.

It has been alleged that GlaxoSmithKline tried to downplay findings that Avandia could raise the risk of heart attack and that a rival drug might actually reduce cardiovascular risks. The drug manufacturer made a statement that Avandia is safe and that the Senate’s report took information out of context.

Your Rights
If you have suffered serious complications after taking a medication, you should contact a Long Island personal injury attorney at the law firm of Rappaport, Glass, Greene and Levine today at 800.734.9445. We will review your case to determine if you have a claim against the drug manufacturer.