I have written in the past about the diabetic drug Avandia and the fact that studies suggested it was causing an increase in heart attacks. Now a new study (independent and not financed by the pharmaceutical industry) of nearly 160,000 people revealed that older patients who took Avandia and Actos had a higher risk of heart attacks, congestive heart failure and death than those on other diabetic pills. Back in August of 2007 the FDA added a “black-box” warning to these drugs advising patients with congestive heart failure not to take them. Now, the FDA has asked Glaxo (the maker of Avandia) to complete a study comparing Avandia’s heart attack risk as compared to other diabetic pills. The study will not be completed until 2014!

Are you kidding me?!?! The year 2014!! Idiot-say-what? I simply cannot believe that we, as the patient population, stand for this kind of injustice. Does it not make sense to pull these drugs from the market first and then prove that they are not causing increases in heart attacK, congestive heart disease, and DEATH? Would it not seem more important to protect the lives of the people who might be given this dangerous drug than to protect the profits of Glaxo? As my kids favorite Disney Channel personality Hanna Montana would say, “Ya think?!?”

Ya think, not! I think that I will puke next time someone defends Splenda, Equal, or a drug by telling me that the FDA would not have approved it if it were dangerous.

So, why is it that we stand for this kind of injustice? The answer has a couple of components. First, what are you going to do? I vent in my writings but really the only benefit is that I raise awareness. My outrage and yours has no impact on the FDA or the drug companies. In other words, it is their bat; their ball, and their field. We have no say in how the game is played.

Who, you may ask, has a say? The answer is the doctors who prescribe these drugs. They could easily stop Avandia and Actos from killing another person if they simply stopped prescribing for the drug. The reason they do not is that medical doctors are fed the lion’s share of their information from the pharmaceutical industry along every step of their training. Doctors always tell me that they think independently from the pharmaceutical industry and that all of its influences do not affect their decisions. I stand unconvinced.

Someone out there who has been given a prescription for Avandia or Actos call your doctor and ask them if they are aware of the studies showing an increase in heart attacks from these drugs. I will all but guarantee you that they will tell you that they are aware of the studies and that at this time there is nothing to be alarmed about. If they thought otherwise they would have phoned you to tell you to stop taking the drug. Then ask them a very simple question: Why are you not alarmed? Their oath was to first do no harm. They have so many other options to use for diabetic control. Why use a drug that has an extremely questionable safety profile when other, equally effective options exist? Email me the responses you get.

The Bottom Line:

Whether or not you take Avandia or Actos is not important. You have to understand that drugs are on the market because they make money. Read my next article if you do not believe this statement. As a side-benefit, a number of drugs help certain groups of people. But, your doctor, the FDA and the pharmaceutical industry will not let a little thing like you increasing your risk for heart attack dissuade them from keeping a drug on the market. When 2014 comes around and they take Avandia and Actos off of the market, everyone involved will wash their hands of responsibility. Glaxo will have made billions, doctors will not face any reprimand, and the FDA will claim to have done its job. Be wise and question your doctor every time they provide you with a prescription. Read my article about what you should ask your doctor at every visit: 5 ?’s To Ask At Your Next Doctor Visit