Diabetes Drug Screws Up Your Heart

In yet another shocking incidence in which medications turn out to actually be bad for you, two studies found that Avandia, a medication for diabetes, increases the risk of heart attack and similar dropping-dead-from-heart-not- working problems.

Of course, GlaxoSmithKline, the makers of Avandia and a very long word to type, claim that Avandia is perfectly safe and will actually make you a better Scrabble player (okay, I made that last part up).  They cite “better, newer” studies (read: studies we bought and paid for) which proclaim Avandia’s safety.

Unfortunately for GSK, the latest released study shows an increased risk of heart attack (39 percent) and heart-related death (43 pecent) from those taking Avandia.  The FDA is convening a special panel of experts to help them decide whether or not these pesky side effects are sufficient to remove the drug from the market, but they’ll probably chicken out, since they’re fairly useless.

One more reason to say no to sugar, folks.

Source article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/29/health/29drug.html?partner=rss&emc=rss