November 23, 2010 – The diabetes drug Avandia will continue to be sold in Canada, but with new restrictions1.
From now on, Avandia, manufactured by the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), will be prescribed only to patients who cannot tolerate other types of anti-diabetic drugs and who show no signs of heart problems.
These warnings also apply to two other drugs from GSK: Avandamet (combining rosiglitazone and metformin) and Avandaryl (combining rosiglitazone and glimepiride).
According to GSK, people with diabetes who use Avandia should not stop taking this medicine without consulting their doctor, in order to avoid sudden changes in blood sugar levels.
Withdrawn from the European market
Earlier this year, Avandia was pulled from the European market due to the increased risk of heart damage it causes2.
But in the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) decided last summer to approve the maintenance of this product on the market.3.
Martin LaSalle – PasseportSanté.net
1. On this subject, see the public notice issued by GlaxoSmithKline and posted on the Health Canada website on November 18, 2010.
2. On this subject, see our new Diabetes: should we withdraw Avandia from the market ?.
3. On this subject, read our news Diabetes: the drug Avandia receives the support of a committee of American experts.
