New Warnings Given for Avandia Risks

Ontario, CanadaA new warning about Avandia risks will be displayed on the diabetes drug package in Canada, according to manufacturers of the drug, CBC News reports.

span itemprop="image" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject" style="display:block">In September, Avandia was taken off shelves in Europe, while regulators in the US restricted its use due to the risk of heart attacks, according to the news provider. At that time, manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline had said that Health Canada was reviewing the proposed warnings that are now in effect.

The new package warnings state that the drug may increase the risk of heart problems, including chest pain, fluid retention, heart failure and heart attack. The warnings add that the drug should not be taken by those who have had heart problems.

Additionally, the company says that patients should not abruptly stop the use of the drug as a result of these new warnings, as this could cause a lack of control over the diabetes.

Avandia is used to treat Type 2 diabetes, which is the most common form of the disease and is linked to obesity. Approximately 200 million people worldwide suffer from the disease, according to the news provider.