Another diabetes drug has recently been linked to adverse side effects–specifically, bone fractures. The group of drugs prescribed to treat Type 2 Diabetes, thiazolidinediones, was introduced in the 1990’s and has been associated with bone fractures in over 1,800 patients over the age of 40 who had been prescribed the drug at least once.
The increased risk of bone fracture was noted in a study conducted by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in an examination of the medical records of over 6 million patients registered at general practices in the UK.
The fact that older people, in general, are at greater risk of bone fracture was taken into consideration; nonetheless, in the group of patients over 40, nearly 1.5 as many fractures occurred when taking thiazolidinediones than patients over 40 not taking these drugs. Both men and women were affected, and the fracture sites were not confined to one area of the body. The study also found that the longer the drug was taken, the number of incidents of fractures increased.
The researchers do concede that as with any study there could be other sources because the study was observational and not a “randomized trial.” However, the findings should be investigated further because of the ongoing debate regarding the safety of these diabetes drugs.
If you suffer from Type 2 Diabetes and are taking a drug in the class known as thiazolidinediones, you should consult your physician to see if the drug should be substituted with another drug not associated with adverse effects.
If you or someone you love has been harmed by a dangerous drug, please contact an experienced pharmaceutical litigation attorney in your area today to schedule a confidential, no-cost consultation.
