Experts Urge Looser Rules for Avandia

An expert panel has recommended loosening restrictions on the diabetes drug rosiglitazone (Avandia). The panel based its advice on a new analysis of a study about the drug’s effect on heart attack risk. Avandia was a huge seller before researchers raised questions about its effects on heart health. One major study pooled results of 42 previous studies. It concluded that people taking Avandia had a higher risk of heart attack than people taking other diabetes drugs. A later study directly compared heart attack rates for people taking different diabetes drugs. That study found no increased risk with Avandia. But critics questioned how well it was done. In 2010, the FDA sharply restricted access to the drug. Both doctor and patient must acknowledge they know the risks and cannot lower blood sugar enough with other drugs. Prescriptions plummeted.