The position of this author is a bit extreme, as is post #2. See post #2.2.

Phizer and Glaxo peddle lethal and toxic "medications," but marijuana is not legal?

Wow, sounds like power any money have trumped Medicine.

Martha, many times it isn't the diabetic who hasn't read the instructions about side effects. Doctors are not informed. They don't bother to read them, and if you complain about having side effects, they ignore you. It happened to me. I almost died because a doctor refused to listen to me or take me off of Actos, a drug that supposedly isn't as bad as Avandia. Both should be banned, but drug money talks with the FDA. They just plain do not care.

My daughter has arthritis caused because a doctor refused to listen to her about her side effects from a drug she was taking. A drug that lists arthritis as one of the side effects. I've learned I have to be my own doctor. If you think you are experiencing a side effect from a drug, and your doctor isn't listening to you, go to one another one. Make them listen.

Despite the FDA’s ruling I would suggest that since there are many other diabetes drugs available, why take the chance? Avandia is no miracle diabetes drug where the benefit outweighs any risk. There are plenty of other options.

PPFFTT... another blinded horse drinking the koolaid, NO... lawsuits are NOT part of what makes the cost of medicine so outrageous, GREED is the ONLY reason medicine is so outrageous... PERIOD! If lawsuits didn't happen then you'd never know about the "approved" drugs that kill people.

Diabetes is a direct result of our food supply.

We have Food and Drug Admin allowing GMO's, high fructose corn syrup and a plethora of other things they know are bad, other countries know are bad and ban them, but in America, the almighty dollar rules.

Funny, food companies and drug companies are directly related. Hmmmm... I wonder why.

Start getting educated and start being responsible for your own health. The feds are not watching out for you, this isn't news. The information is on the net, all you have to do is want to learn.

And the FDA voted to leave it on the market why and I not suprised. Next will come the name chnage.

Brandon, you beat me to it, but I just wanted to echo your sentiments.

"GlaxoSmithKline's drug Avandia should stay on the market, federal health experts voted Wednesday, but the controversial diabetes pill should be subject to new restrictions due to risky heart side effects... The vote marks a tough win for British drugmaker Glaxo, which is facing thousands of lawsuits from patients who say Avandia caused their heart attacks or strokes... Ultimately though, panelists said the risks were not severe enough to justify removing a drug used by hundreds of thousands of patients."

Cannabis has been used medically since approximately 2737 BC, has never killed, never caused a stroke or heart attack, and helps with a wide variety of conditions (cancer, AIDS, glaucoma, Crohn's, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's, epilepsy, and MANY more)... yet it is listed on this same federal government's Schedule I Controlled Substances list, which means that the government contends it has NO medical value AT ALL, is more dangerous than cocaine and meth, and is FAR more dangerous than Avandia.

Interesting.

This is quite typical of what is happening in practically all the regulatory agencies. This is the stated purpose of the FDA from their own website:

The FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation.

The FDA is also responsible for advancing the public health by helping to speed innovations that make medicines and foods more effective, safer, and more affordable; and helping the public get the accurate, science-based information they need to use medicines and foods to improve their health. Source: FDA.gov

We all know full well they have utterly and deliberately failed in their mission as have all the other agencies that regulate the oil, banking, and other industries due to their acceptance of legalized bribes (lobbying money). Not to mention the former industry executives who now fill many of the top positions at regulatory agencies. The same goes for our Congresses and Presidents for decades now.

At the very least in an economy with so many out of work, couldn't they take on these jobs to protect their fellow citizens since the FDA claims it is understaffed and can't enforce many of the violations of food and pharmaceutical manufacturers?

I'm sure there will still be those who want to blame the consumer and part of the blame is theirs. However, what are WE as citizens going to do about this? Continue to be silent, apathetic, and paralyzed in the face of absolute corruption and greed? I hope not.

Todd- think that you both have some issues.A doctor can caution use of a product, suggest alternative ways, such as food control to lower diabetic numbers.You on the other hand go for the lawsuit.Lawsuits are not supposed to be your monitor of corporations good behaviour, nor are they supposed to be the a way for compensation- too many people stretch the point with insignificant health problems.That is what is wrong with this country,and yes, I have had such a chance with a meaningful health problem, and I opted not to sue.I do not consider myself in the least bit naive.
Where I am a bit confused- you will put a corporation oiut of business because of your health or treatment-come on.
That is a bit extreme

However, things are a bit more complicated. Diabetics are at increased myocardial infarction risk than nondiabetics, and so a fraction (not 100%) of myocardial infarctions in diabetics may be due to Avandia and the rest would have occurred anyway.

I see more of a problem if GSK hid data from the FDA, doctors, or the public. That is punishable. The issue is a lot more cloudy for patient injury or death that occurs when the data are not clear. A drug may be safe and lifesaving for the vast majority of patients, but genetic variation and individual patient characteristics may mean that a small minority of patients are harmed by any given drug. If punishment is too severe, the R&D of new drug products will suffer and medicine will be advanced more slowly. However, if punishment is too lenient, and oversight lax, more patients will be harmed.

Overall, I would like to see tort reform to reduce frivolous lawsuits. Expert panels would screen cases to see if lawsuits can proceed to the next step, at which time then the doc would need representation. If docs deviate from the standard of care, and harm comes to a patient, they are liable. But many actions are judgement calls where the correct decision is unclear, and the doc is not liable for these. Frivolous lawsuits might arise for any bad outcome, yet not all bad outcomes are due to mistakes, and not all mistakes are due to malpractice. I could practice good medicine and not be subject to legitimate malpractice claims. But I just hate having to practice defensively to prevent those frivolous lawsuits, which is akin to putting an innocent person on trial.

Overall, if patients took better care of themselves, maintained a healthy weight, and didn't smoke or drink or use illicit drugs or engage in unsafe sexual practices, you would see a big decrease in morbidity and mortality. You cannot change the genes you inherited or bad luck - all you can do is take personal responsibility for your health.

Sorry dude but this and many drugs are not tested properly or the results are hidden and redone. The FDA is not doing it's job because again this is another agency that suffered under the "deregulate, defund, corrupt" push by big business interests.

This is another case in a long history of cases where profits where placed before safety. The good this company does not cover for the bad they did.

I have to agree neoatg ,the article said (the investors are worried about more lawsuits) well duh , so we just side step the problem so the investors wont have to worry,F%^K them and their investment it is clear that money is more importantthat the people and the FDA should be held accountable in all the lawsuits as well, and ill bet that the top FDA folks are throw back republicans with big investments in SCG, i think that if you are going to represent the people of this land than you should have to sell all stocks you own before you take a public office and all the lobbyist should be put in prison every time they represent anything that causes public harm, and if people die than a life sentence for the lobbyists that pushed for anything that caused death , then maybe they will be just a little careful where they seek their monies from , as it is now everyone is just trying to get paid with no regard to anything except their paycheck...Why do we even have an FDA? they do nothing but take tax dollars when they are supposed to help keep us (the tax payer safe from being poisoned)but they are JUST getting paid with our tax dollars while they do squat and point fingers , dam i need a government job..

Margaret
that is really sad.But remember who cut both Medicaid, as well as Medicare- and please factor that, as well as your health into your voting

Widow- my condolences, as well as hope for a happy future in time, as you heal

......yes.....what ever happened to governments plilosophy, " to error on the side of caution, or safety above profits".......give these loonies jobs to illegal immigrants who are just looking for a better life

Good for your doctor for taking you off of the Avandia. I have been on it for 4 years. I too questioned the side effects as I gained weight, retained water and swelled terrible, had shortness of breath. I couldn't walk any distance not even from one room to the other. My doctor refused to take me off of it but she did finally diagnose me with congestive heart failure. I took myself off Avandia and changed doctors. I am doing much better. Shame on the FDA for allowing Avandia to continue to be on the market. Someone's pocket got lined!!!

I'm really glad you decided to take yourself off of Avandia and changed doctors and became free from that particular set of side effects, Debbie. Congrats. BIG hugg for taking initiative.

There must be a lot of doctors who don't really know how to be a good doctor. They let their pretty sales reps from the pharmaceutical companies do the decision-making. The doctor's kickback paychecks and free vacation trips must be great incentives for prescribing these meds. Knowing this makes me mad. Hulk Smash!

Actos. Despite being in the same family as Avandia, the same cardiac concerns have not appeared. Diabetics in general are at much higher risk for myocardial infarction than nondiabetics. One advantage of Actos is it has a more favorable effect on lipid levels, but the clinical significance of this is unknown. Both drugs, however, cause fluid retention and fat weight gain. The more one exercises and restricts caloric intake, the fewer diabetic meds are needed. Talk to your doc for official advice.

I was switched over to Actos (a daily low dose) and so far, no problems. But, talk to your doctor about it. "Wildcat Fan" is right though, the more exercise and better diet, the better chances of reducing your diabetic meds.

Actos has the same and iother side effects as Avandia-did my research. It can also cause muscle and leg pain, water retention, mostly in the legs, tooth and mouth pain, and the same heart risks. I demanded to be taken off Avandia during the first heart scare several years ago and got put on Actos. After some research and asking my doctor several times why I was needing 3 diabetes pills and being told "I don't really know, just keep taking them" I finally took myself off Actos last month and I feel much better, the side effects are gone and my BS hasen't changed.

We need to take responsibility for our own health, do our own research, and question our doctors. We don't need to just blindly swallow every medicine that our doctors give us, we aren't guinea pigs. Wake up and take that responsibility-you might actually feel better and have a life!!

And I was right they voted to leave it on the market. Just you wait a name chnage will come soon.

I recently got on the diet and exercise "bandwagon", big time. My goal is to reverse my type two diabetes and get off all the meds. Have lost several pounds already and am feeling great! And more energy with the exercise too. I should have done this years ago, but its not too late.

Arizona Resident - I wish all my patients had your attitude. Good luck. At worst, you will reduce your need for meds. At best, you can get off them. You cannot change the past, but you can take personal responsibility for your present to improve your future. Best wishes.

I walk up the volcano hill just north of Glendale daily, yes, even in the +100 degree heat.

Nowadays, I've lowered my glucose measurement by so much, I actually have to make sure I don't go HYPOglycemic.

YES, daily exercise DOES wonders on so many levels. Stamina, mental toughness, no more post-nasal drip, no more mucus lung infection, no more depression, no more oozy poops, on and on.

I'm NOT anti-meds. I just "wanna testify" that if you do what Nature designed you for, more than likely you will be healthier, and not need to depend on meds and Depends. Hallelujah !!

I hate direct-to-consumer advertisements. Here's where free speech makes my job as a physician much tougher. Patients need to take more personal responsibility for their health and not expect an rx for a pill to fix every ill.

Right on, Doctor NU Wildcat Fan! And did you notice that all these commercials, which all appear to be made by the same Madison Avenue firm, say "Tell your doctor! Tell your doctor if you have liver trouble or hear trouble, etc.". As if doctors are all a bunch of idiots that need to be told everything. Isn't it the doctor who is supposed to tell the patient if he has liver trouble or heart trouble; not the other way around?

Patient: "Oh, Doctor. I have liver trouble."

Doctor: "No you don't! I just did a blood test on you and you're liver is fine."

Patient: "No, doctor, I have liver trouble."

....Mickey......that is why we are an addicted nation..........The same thing ( nothing ) is being done about 'high fructose corn syrup' that tricks the brain into thinking your tank is not full, and needs more........years ago Coke was forced to remove Cocaine from their soft drink for the same reason.........Most all credible biochemist, dietician and Doctor identify high fructose corn syrup as the leading cause of obesity which now affects 1/3 of Americans

This is all more proof, regardless of party, government has no interest in providing for the general welfare of the people, they are bought and paid for......vote for whatever challenger, or independent, we can be no worse off

Ellis,

I think you right. I hadn't heard anything about high fructose corn syrup. As for Coke, I read a long time ago in a book on alcoholic beverages that Coke still uses coca leaves in it's recipe, only the cocaine ingredient is remove first. I just wonder what they do with the cocaine after they remove it. Maybe there are a lot of happy workers at that company! Has there ever been a workers' strike against Coca-Cola company?

Wildcat, I completely agree! It's a shame that the government still allows these companies to advertise directly to the public. It's the equivalent of taking your 8 year old to the candy store. They want a quick fix and do not know anything about the drug, except that it "should fix them". Same with the 8 year old. They will nag and nag about wanting something, even though they have no clue what the hell it is made of, and what kind of deterimental effects it has on their teeth. Ok, probably a bad analogy, but you know what I mean.

Kidsdoctor,

You're right. That's the whole point of these drug commercials: To get patients to pester their doctors into prescribing these drugs for them whether the doctor thinks it's in the patient's best interest or not. I've become so sick of drug pushers on TV I watch PBS as much as possible. Since I don't have cable TV, it's the only way I can escape from the drug pushers. PBS doesn't have them.

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....Observer..... bucking for a bonus, are you ?.....get real......ninety eight percent of people who take prescribed drugs trust their doctor to know whats best for them.......It is the careless, greedy drug companies who need to take personal responsibility for the damage and suffering they cause......Take the product off the market until it is proven safe.