Monday, November 22, 2010

Health Canada announces restrictions on diabetes drug

From CTV News:
Health Canada has announced new restrictions and a consent form for the diabetes medication rosiglitazone, sold under the brand name Avandia, because of an increased risk of heart-related illness.

The national drug regulator said Thursday that it changed the restrictions after reviewing recent data and in conjunction with manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline Inc.

The drug may increase the risk of serious heart problems, including heart failure, angina (chest pain), heart attack or fluid retention (with or without rapid weight gain). It should not be used by patients who have or have had heart problems, the agency said in a release Thursday.

Health Canada says the medication should be used only in patients with Type 2 diabetes when all other diabetes medicines taken orally have not lowered blood sugar enough, or are not appropriate. ...more

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