A popular diabetes drug found to increase heart attack and death risks has prompted the health ministry to issue an alert to all hospitals, clinics and pharmacies in the UAE.
Rosiglitazone, sold by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) as Avandia and Andavamet, raises the risk of heart attacks by 43 per cent and cardiac arrest by 64 per cent, according to a scientific analysis of 42 studies done on almost 28,000 people.
The analysis was published by the New England Journal of Medicine online. The study also found more heart-related deaths associated with the drug, approved in 1999 to treat Type II diabetes.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a safety alert on Monday, warning patients to consult their doctors, but stopped short of asking GSK to withdraw the drug.
Rosiglitazone, sold by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) as Avandia and Andavamet, raises the risk of heart attacks by 43 per cent and cardiac arrest by 64 per cent, according to a scientific analysis of 42 studies done on almost 28,000 people.
The analysis was published by the New England Journal of Medicine online. The study also found more heart-related deaths associated with the drug, approved in 1999 to treat Type II diabetes.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a safety alert on Monday, warning patients to consult their doctors, but stopped short of asking GSK to withdraw the drug.
According to GSK, Avandia and Andavamet are two of the company's best-selling drugs in the UAE.
Humaid Al Shamsi, assistant undersecretary of the drug control department at the ministry, told Gulf News that they would follow the FDA example and issue a circular to all relevant parties, informing them of the latest developments.
"We are dealing with the medicine, so we will make the circular to all hospitals and primary healthcare centres [latest] by Thursday," he said, adding that pharmacists were included.
He said his office would also work with the ministry's curative medicine department on alternative diabetes management. Among other things, the circular will advise doctors to discuss the drug's safety with patients currently on the drug.
Dr Maha Taysir Barakat, medical and research director at the London Imperial College Diabetes Centre in Abu Dhabi said that despite the findings, patients should not stop using the drug without medical supervision.
"All patients on Avandia should go and see their doctors, particularly the elderly. If they stop suddenly, it may be even more dangerous because their blood sugar will go up," she said.
The UK company issued a statement on its website, refuting safety concerns. It called the statistical analysis "limited" and said that a separate study on more than 33,000 patients showed no difference in heart risks among patients taking Avandia versus other anti-diabetic medicines. Source
Humaid Al Shamsi, assistant undersecretary of the drug control department at the ministry, told Gulf News that they would follow the FDA example and issue a circular to all relevant parties, informing them of the latest developments.
"We are dealing with the medicine, so we will make the circular to all hospitals and primary healthcare centres [latest] by Thursday," he said, adding that pharmacists were included.
He said his office would also work with the ministry's curative medicine department on alternative diabetes management. Among other things, the circular will advise doctors to discuss the drug's safety with patients currently on the drug.
Dr Maha Taysir Barakat, medical and research director at the London Imperial College Diabetes Centre in Abu Dhabi said that despite the findings, patients should not stop using the drug without medical supervision.
"All patients on Avandia should go and see their doctors, particularly the elderly. If they stop suddenly, it may be even more dangerous because their blood sugar will go up," she said.
The UK company issued a statement on its website, refuting safety concerns. It called the statistical analysis "limited" and said that a separate study on more than 33,000 patients showed no difference in heart risks among patients taking Avandia versus other anti-diabetic medicines. Source
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