Avandia News

 

Doctor analyzes magazine's list of drugs to avoid

-KATU.Com

07/17/2008- Slickly produced ads for prescription drugs are everywhere, especially on TV, where they tout the latest pharmaceutical breakthroughs, usually accompanied by a long list of side effect warnings.

But a recent list in Men's Health magazine detailing eight drugs most doctors would not take flew in the face of many of the big-bucks ad campaigns by their manufacturers.

KATU News contacted a local physician to get her take on the Men's Health magazine list of eight drugs to avoid.

Dr. Melinda Muller of Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland agreed that the most of the drugs on the list had issues. First up: the diabetes drug Avandia.

"I wouldn't use it unless I absolutely had to and I didn't have any other options," Dr. Muller told KATU News, citing the drug's increased risk of damaging the heart.

"It is probably a last line drug. If you have tried everything else and you can't find anything else, then you can try it," Dr. Muller said.

Next on the list was the popular pain reliever Celebrex. "Celebrex would probably be useful in some cases, but again it probably wouldn't be first choice." Dr. Muller said.

According the Men's Health article, Celebrex has been linked to increased risks of stomach bleeding, kidney trouble, and liver damage.

Another popular medicine that is not good for the heart is pseudoephedrine, a common ingredient in many over-the-counter cold and allergy medications. Dr. Muller said pseudoephedrine is an effective drug for most people, but can "dramatically exacerbate" heart problems, high blood pressure or coronary disease.

Another factor on the list, according to the article, is that newer drugs are not always better than ones with a longer track record.

That's true with Ketek, a recently released anti-biotic, according to Dr. Fuller. "Every time you turn around somebody is making a new antibiotic and in many cases there is no evidence that the new ones have any better effect than the old ones."

Also, most new drugs include a common side effect: high cost. Older, proven drugs that work just as well typically are much lower in cost, and most doctors should try those drugs first to save patients money, according to Dr. Muller.

One drug that Dr. Muller prescribes often that is on the list is the heartburn medications Prilosec.

But another one, one that many people don't typically regard as a drug and for which no prescription is needed, is on her personal bad list as well: Visine.

Dr. Muller said the popular eye medication works as advertised - it gets the red out - but once you stop taking it, the red, caused by enlarged blood vessels in the eye, comes right back. And it can be tough to kick the Visine habit.

Going cold turkey off of Visine may leave you with bloodshot eyes for a few days, Dr. Muller warns.

Other drugs on the list include:

The heartburn drug Nexium. Men's Health says its effectiveness in stopping acid production can lead to increased danger of developing pneumonia and bone loss due to reduced calcium absorption.

The asthma medication Advair made the Men's Health list because it could increase the severity of an asthma attack. The FDA recently placed a "black box" warning on Advair, their highest caution level.

For each drug listed, Men's Health also has a recommendation for another medication or treatment option that may also work.

You can read the whole article here.

If you or a loved one have experienced an Avandia heart attack, or Avandia stroke, Avandia congestive heart failure, Avandia cardiovascular disease or if you have lost a loved one to an Avandia death you may be entitled to compensation. Contact the Avandia attorneys of Ennis & Ennis today for a free confidential case evaluation. Our on staff nurse and lawyers are standing by to answer any questions you may have regarding Avandia's side effects, a possible Avandia class action lawsuit, or any other type of Avandia litigation.