FDA Gives Avandia The Nod To Stay On The Market
Ok, it is official… Avandia will stay on the market. The FDA voted an overwhelming yes to keeping the drug on the shelves. They stated that they are recommending that there be warning labels for the elder population and high risk cardiac patients.
And as you can guess, this is getting a bag of mixed emotions. Will this stop the 1000’s of lawsuits that are currently existing due to Avandia’s heart implications? I think not. But it will give the pharmaceutical company more than a leg to stand on.
It is estimated that Avandia was responsible for contributing to 80,000 heart attacks over the last 8 years. Can they point the finger solely at Avandia? Were there pre-existing factors? Who is to say, I will leave that one to the attorneys and such.
It is a bit like the Vioxx scare a few years back. Did all orthopedics stop prescribing this medication after the cardiac warnings and accusations came out? Nope, not even close. Heck, my orthopod even uses it himself. But there were tons, and I mean tons, of money awarded in the courts.
Time will tell how much of an effect the FDA approval has on the already suffering Avandia. Will it bounce back? I know that personally while I was at the doctor’s office this morning, the drug rep came skipping in pushing the use of Avandia and proclaiming it’s innocence. What do you think? Do you still take Avandia? Do you have a heart condition? Will you stay on the medicine? So many questions, so little time!
Tags: accusations, avandia, cardiac_patients, drug_rep, elder_population, fda_approval, heart_attacks, heart_condition, mixed_emotions, orthopedics, orthopod, pharmaceutical_company, point_the_finger, time_will_tell, tons_of_money, vioxx, warning_labels
2 opinions for FDA Gives Avandia The Nod To Stay On The Market
Bill the diabetes doc
Aug 2, 2007 at 6:02 am
Kendra:
Just one point of clarification: it was an advisory committee, not the FDA itself, that voted to keep Avandia on the market in the US. The FDA staff people could in theory ignore the recommendation of AdComms, but usually doesn’t.
Kendra James, RN
Aug 2, 2007 at 6:55 am
Yes Bill- thank you for stating that! Have a good day!
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