Actos is 'alternative' to banned diabetes drug Avandia Skip to main content

Actos is 'alternative' to banned diabetes drug Avandia

Diabetes medicine Drugs are used to control sugar levels in diabetes

Related Stories

A drug to treat diabetes, Actos, would be a "sensible alternative" to one which was banned last year, researchers have said.
Avandia, also known as rosiglitazone, was suspended by authorities in Europe, but is still available in the United States and Canada.
The study published on the BMJ website said patients taking Actos had fewer heart problems.
Diabetes UK said Actos was a very effective treatment.
Rosiglitazone and pioglitazone, which has the trade name Actos, are used to control blood sugar levels in patients with type-2 diabetes and both are known to increase the risk of heart failure.
The research team at the University of East Anglia compared the risks associated with each drug by analysing 16 studies of more 800,000 patients.
Rosiglitazone increased the risk of heart attack by 16%, heart failure by 23%, and death by 14% compared with pioglitazone.
Alternative The report says: "For patients who need thiazolidinedione treatment, continued use of rosiglitazone may lead to excess heart attacks, heart failure and mortality, compared with pioglitazone, the effect on public health may be considerable."
Dr Yoon Loke, from the Univeristy of East Anglia, told the BBC: "For patients who have come off rosiglitazone, pioglitazone would be a sensible alternative."
"Although it's like jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire in some ways, pioglitazone can lead to fractures in women, is being evaluated for risk in bladder cancer and increases the risk of heart failure."
Deepa Khatri, clinical advisor at Diabetes UK, said people with diabetes should have as much choice as possible.
"Actos (pioglitazone) is still available on the European market for people with diabetes.
"For many people, Actos is a very effective treatment to help control blood glucose levels and Diabetes UK believes this drug should continue to be made available to ensure people with diabetes have as much choice as possible.
"Alternatives to Actos are available, however is it very important that people discuss treatment options with their healthcare team to assess the most appropriate form of medication to suit their individual needs."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12771188
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Chronology of the Press in Burma

1836 – 1846 * During this period the first English-language newspaper was launched under British-ruled Tenasserim, southern  Burma . The first ethnic Karen-language and Burmese-language newspapers also appear in this period.     March 3, 1836 —The first English-language newspaper,  The Maulmain Chronicle , appears in the city of Moulmein in British-ruled Tenasserim. The paper, first published by a British official named E.A. Blundell, continued up until the 1950s. September 1842 —Tavoy’s  Hsa-tu-gaw  (the  Morning Star ), a monthly publication in the Karen-language of  Sgaw ,  is established by the Baptist mission. It is the first ethnic language newspaper. Circulation reached about three hundred until its publication ceased in 1849. January 1843 —The Baptist mission publishes a monthly newspaper, the Christian  Dhamma  Thadinsa  (the  Religious Herald ), in ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Sri Bhaddanta Chandramani Mahathera

The Life Story of A Distinguished And Outstanding Bhikkhu The Most Venerable Saradawpharagree Sri Bhaddanta Chandramani Mahathera The Buddhist missionary Saradaw Ashin U Chandramani was endowed with great gifts and led a famous and long life. He was a very well known, distinguished and outstanding Bhikkhu Mahathera. While living in the Kushinagar Monastery, a place close to where the Lord Buddha had passed away to Nirvana, the Government of India had offered, and he had accepted, the highest, most honourable and respected title "Guru Guru MahaGuru". He became the first ever President of all Buddhists in India.A World Buddhist Conference took place in Kathmandu during the reign of King Mahindra of Nepal. The Conference was very well attended by over one hundred thousand Buddhists from various parts of the world and it was opened by King Mahindra himself. As requested by the King, Saradawpharagree blessed all the participants with the power of Triple Gems...
Post a Comment
Read more

Thai penis whitening trend raises eyebrows

Image copyright LELUXHOSPITAL Image caption Authorities warn the procedure could be quite painful A supposed trend of penis whitening has captivated Thailand in recent days and left it asking if the country's beauty industry is taking things too far. Skin whitening is nothing new in many Asian countries, where darker skin is often associated with outdoor labour, therefore, being poorer. But even so, when a clip of a clinic's latest intriguing procedure was posted online, it quickly went viral. Thailand's health ministry has since issued a warning over the procedure. The BBC Thai service spoke to one patient who had undergone the treatment, who told them: "I wanted to feel more confident in my swimming briefs". The 30-year-old said his first session of several was two months ago, and he had since seen a definite change in the shade. 'What for?' The original Facebook post from the clinic offering the treatment, which uses lasers to break do...
1 comment
Read more