Actos and Avandia Double Fracture Risk in Diabetes Patients

Scott Kappes

Contributor
(866) 735-1102 Ext 346

0 CommentsPrint ArticleSubscribe

A new study that analyzed over 12 years of data from the UK suggests that the diabetes drugs Avandia and Actos may double or even triple the likelihood of a bone fracture in diabetes patients. Swiss researchers compared about a thousand patients who suffered fractures with 3,728 matched patients who did not experience fractures. The results were troubling to say the least.

Over the course of the study, most of the patients took several diabetes drugs. But those who refilled their Actos or Avandia prescriptions eight times or more -- about 12 to 18 months of use -- had nearly twice the fracture risk of other patients.

Furthermore the study found that patients who refilled their prescriptions for Avandia and Actos 15 times or more tripled their risk experiencing bone fractures. The study found no increased risk with other diabetes medications.

Avandia and Actos have also been linked to an increased risk of heart problems. The sales of Avandia have been nearly cut in half over the past year due to heart concerns made public last May by a study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine.