Avandia sales falling as doctors prescribe alternatives

RESEARCH TRIANGLE, N.C. According to TNS Healthcare’s DiabetesDynamics USA, data from July through September of 2007 showed that nearly 70 percent of changes in Avandia prescribing were the results of physicians switching patients to another therapy.

The data also suggests that the rate of withdrawals is accelerating, with as many withdrawals in the third quarter of 2007 as compared to the first and second quarters combined.

One of the main reasons physicians are switching patients according to DiabetesDynamics, is the recent reports of Avandia, a GlaxoSmithKline product, being linked with increased cardiovascular risks. The data also showed that 20 percent of Avandia withdrawals were due to cardiac problems associated with taking the medication.