Popular Diabetes Drug May Do More Harm Than Good

Filed in archive News on October 22, 2006

Medical officials are releasing warnings after carefully studying the Type 2 diabetes drug pioglitazone, sold under the brand name Actos.

Not only does it show limited positive effects, it also appears to increase edema and cause dangerous fluctuations in blood sugar.

"Until new evidence becomes available, the benefit-risk ratio of pioglitazone therapy in type 2 diabetes mellitus remains unclear," said Richter, an assistant professor in the department of endocrinology, diabetes and rheumatology at Heinrich Heine University in Germany.

Richter said pioglitazone treatment should be restricted to patients who show real benefits -- fewer diabetic complications and improved health-related quality of life -- from taking the drug. The findings are published in the current issue of The Cochrane Library journal.

If you take Actos--or any sort of drug treatment--be sure to carefully monitor your health for any signs of danger. You can read more about these developments here, here, and here.