Balancing risks of drug and diabetes

Published on Sunday 6 April 2008 21:58

TODAY we report that a widely prescribed diabetes drug – sold under the name Avandia and also known as rosiglitazone – has been cited in recent medical research as increasing the risk of heart attacks by 43 per cent and the risk of cardiovascular deaths by 64 per cent. If these findings are true, there is clearly a major question mark over the way the medication is used. However, the issue is complicated and comes down to assessing the balance between the risks involved and potential benefits t

The best immediate solution is probably that the drug is placed on a "restricted formulary", meaning that only specialist consultants can prescribe it. GPs would no longer be able to issue Avandia – at least until there has been more detailed research. The question then arises: what about patients already using Avandia? Consultants in Greater Glasgow are recommending that no new patients are given the drug and that GPs should also look very carefully at those already taking it with a view to stopping the treatment if they think the risks are high for a particular patient. Fortunately, there are alternative drugs, though these may be less efficient for some patients.

Above all, in this complicated situation, it is necessary that individual patients are apprised of the facts and given a chance to weigh the risks for themselves.