Research Studies on Avandia (Thiazolidinediones)

A three-year, international trial involving 21 countries, demonstrates that diabetes may be held at bay with preventative drug therapy. The study known as the DREAM Trial, showed that combining Avandia with a healthier lifestyle, helps those at high risk for diabetes, by lowering the risk.

During the ADOPT trial (A Diabetes Outcome Progression Trial) a 4-6 year study involving rosiglitazone (Avandia), it was noticed that a significant number of female participants who took Avandia suffered fractures of the upper arm, hand or foot. GlaxoSmithKline confirmed the evidence with the results of another large study that was in progress at the same time, and the findings were similar.

The diabetes drugs, rosiglitazone (Avandia) and pioglitazone (Actos) have been shown to reduce the incidence of lung cancer in a study that appeared in the Journal of Clinical Oncology on April 20, 2007. The two drugs are in the class of thiazolidinediones (TZD's) and are commonly prescribed for type 2 diabetes.

The commonly prescribed diabetes drug, Avandia (rosiglitazone), has come under the scrutiny of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this week, as a result of a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine today. According to the study, Avandia (rosiglitazone) may lead to heart attacks and even death from cardiovascular causes.

The online journal, The Lancet, published an editorial, May 23rd, 2007, on the current controversy surrounding the diabetes drug Avandia. The editorial extends a voice of reason into the fray concerning the recent study that appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine, which found an increase in heart attacks and other fatal cardiovascular conditions that appear to be caused by Avandia.

The Rosiglitazone Evaluated for Cardiac Outcomes and Regulation of Glycemia in Diabetes (RECORD) trial is a six year study that has been on-going since 2003. But due to the meta-analysis study that concluded Avandia may cause heart attacks and fatal cardiovascular conditions, the researchers for the RECORD trial have decided to publish some results in the middle of the trial.

Newer doesn't automatically mean better, especially when it comes to diabetes medications. According to a study published in the on-line journal, Annals of Internal Medicine, metformin performs as well, and sometimes better, than some of the newer diabetes drugs on the market today.

A comparison of the only two drugs in the class of thiazolidinediones, seems to project that pioglitazone (Actos) and rosiglitazone (Avandia) carry many of the same general precautions.

According to an article that appeared December 2, 2007 in Medline Plus, the diabetes drug Avandia appears to affect bones in two ways to cause osteoporosis, both by increasing the production bone-eroding cells and decreasing bone formation.

A study that appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) on Dec. 12th, 2007, shows that people over 65 may have an increased risk of congestive heart failure and heart attack, compared to younger people, with the diabetes drugs rosiglitazone (Avandia) and pioglitazone (Actos) which are in the class of thiazolidinediones (TZD's).