Since 2007, over 10,000 lawsuits have been filed against GlaxoSmithKline, the maker of diabetes medication Avandia. The suits allege GlaxoSmithKline failed to warn consumers about increased risk of heart attack when taking Avandia. Other lawsuits allege Avandia was not manufactured properly and that the side effects were unreasonably dangerous. In 2010, the Food and Drug Administration put restrictions on the sale of Avandia.
If you or a loved one suffered a serious injury like heart attack or stroke after taking Avandia, you may be entitled to substantial compensation. The Cochran Firm, D.C. has a team of product liability attorneys who are investigating Avandia injury claims. If you were hurt by the diabetes drug Avandia, you can recover damages for lost wages, pain and suffering, and hospital bills.
Avandia is a prescription diabetes medication manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline. The active ingredient is rosiglitazone maleate and works by making blood sensitive to insulin, helping to lower blood sugar levels. It was approved by the FDA in 1999 as a treatment for Type 2 diabetes.
In the early 2000s, millions of prescriptions for Avandia were filled but since studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed a link between taking the drug and increased risk of heart attack and stroke, sales plummeted. By 2011, patients were permitted to purchase Avandia only through the mail and after being informed of all the risks by a doctor.
There are many serious and potentially deadly side effects Avandia users may experience. Heart attack, stroke, and death may occur in severe reactions to Avandia. Patients taking Avandia are also at an elevated risk for bone fractures, eye damage, weight gain, and acute hepatitis. Avandia users who were severely injured by these side effects have filed lawsuits against the company, alleging GlaxoSmithKline did not include sufficient information about the risks the drug posed.
Patients who suffered serious injuries while taking Avandia may have incurred huge medical bills and lost substantial income while in the hospital or out of work with their injuries. If you have suffered a serious injury while taking Avandia, you may want to speak to an experienced product liability attorney.
