Avandia leads to significant health problems and, in some cases, death.

Avandia is an oral antidiabetic agent that is produced by the pharmaceutical company, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first approved Avandia as an effective medication for Adults with type II diabetes in 1999. Known side effects of the drug include congestive heart failure, myocardial ischemic, heart attack, liver toxicity or failure, and stroke. In June 2001, the FDA requested that GSK stop distributing misleading informational material, which minimized the alleged risks of taking Avandia. Despite the FDA’s rising concern, by 2006, nearly 4 million Americans were taking the medication as treatment for type II diabetes. Then, in 2007, the FDA completed an eye-opening study, which stated that Avandia increased an individual’s risk of having a heart attack by 43%, and increased an individual’s risk of dying from general heart disease by 64%. It became clear that Avandia was not fulfilling its marketed role as an effective medication with little risk of serious side effects. The label of prescription medications is supposed to give a comprehensive review of all the risks associated with taking a drug. GSK, however, failed to fully disclose information concerning the severe side effects linked to Avandia. In fact, GSK withheld information regarding a study they performed that highlighted the increased risk of heart attacks associated with Avandia. The company chose large profit margins over the well being of their consumer, and deserves to be held accountable for its irresponsible actions.