Avandia not currently being soldAccording to its manufacturer (Woodward Pharma Services), Avandia is not currently being sold. It’s not known if Avandia will be made available again. If you have questions about an Avandia prescription you may have, talk with your doctor.
Avandia (rosiglitazone) is a brand-name prescription medication. It’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to improve blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Avandia is typically used as a long-term treatment.
Here are some fast facts about Avandia:
- Active ingredient: rosiglitazone
- Drug class: thiazolidinedione
- Drug form: tablet
Like other drugs, Avandia can cause side effects. Read on to learn about potential common, mild, and serious side effects. For a general overview of Avandia, see this article.
Avandia can cause certain side effects (also called adverse effects), some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
These are a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took Avandia in clinical trials:
- headache
- back pain
- mild edema (buildup of fluid in your body)
- upper respiratory infection, such as the common cold*
* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.
Mild side effects can occur with Avandia use. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more detail, you can refer to Avandia’s prescribing information.
Mild side effects that have been reported with Avandia include:
- headache
- back pain
- joint pain
- mild edema (buildup of fluid in your body)
- fatigue
- sinusitis (sinus inflammation)
- diarrhea
- high blood pressure
- hyperglycemia (high blood sugar)
- hypoglycemia (low blood sugar, which typically occurs if Avandia is taken with other diabetes medication)
- weight gain*
- upper respiratory infection, such as the common cold*
These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking Avandia and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.
* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.
Avandia may cause serious side effects. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Avandia’s prescribing information.
If you develop serious side effects while taking Avandia, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.
Serious side effects that have been reported and their symptoms include:
- Severe edema (buildup of fluid in your body). Symptoms can include:
- swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet
- shortness of breath
- sudden weight gain
- Liver problems. Symptoms can include:
- dark-colored urine
- loss of appetite
- Macular edema (buildup of fluid in the back of your eye). Symptoms can include:
- blurry vision, especially in the center of your field of vision
- trouble seeing fine detail
- seeing colors that appear faded
- Anemia (low level of red blood cells). Symptoms can include:
- fatigue
- skin, gums, or nailbeds that look paler than usual
- Very low blood sugar (typically occurs if Avandia is used in combination with other diabetes medications). Symptoms can include:
- dizziness
- shaking
- nausea
- Congestive heart failure.*†
- Bone fractures. †
- Heart attack.†
- Allergic reaction.†‡
* Avandia has a
† To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effect specifics” section below.
‡ An allergic reaction is possible after taking Avandia. However, this side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials.
Learn more about some of the side effects that Avandia may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for Avandia.
Upper respiratory infection, such as the common cold
You may be at higher risk of upper respiratory infections, such as the common cold, while taking Avandia. In clinical trials, upper respiratory infections were the most common side effect reported with this drug.
Symptoms of the common cold can include:
- runny nose
- stuffy or blocked nose
- sore throat
- pain or pressure in your sinuses
- cough
- headache
If you get a cold while taking Avandia, your symptoms will usually ease in a few days.
What you can do
If you have bothersome cold-like symptoms while taking Avandia, you can manage them with various home remedies or over-the-counter (OTC) medications.
You can also ask your doctor whether home remedies such as steam inhalation or drinking plenty of fluids are right for you. They may recommend OTC medications, such as:
- cough drops
- cough syrups, such as Dimetapp (brompheniramine)
- antihistamines, such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
- decongestants, such as Sudafed (pseudoephedrine)
- pain relievers, such as ibuprofen
Ask your doctor or pharmacist about home remedies or medications that are suitable for you.
Weight gain
You may gain weight while taking Avandia. Weight gain was common in clinical trials of this medication.
Weight gain may be caused by edema (buildup of fluid in your body) or increased body fat. However, it’s likely a combination of both.
What you can do
If you’re concerned about weight gain with Avandia, talk with your doctor about ways to maintain a weight that is healthy for you. This could involve making changes to your diet or doing more physical activity.
If you gain weight rapidly while taking Avandia, call your doctor right away. This could be a sign of severe edema that could lead to serious problems, such as congestive heart failure. See below to read more about this side effect.
Congestive heart failure
Avandia has a
Avandia can cause severe edema (buildup of fluid in your body). This can sometimes lead to congestive heart failure. If you already have congestive heart failure, taking Avandia could make your symptoms worse. Note that type 2 diabetes also raises your risk of heart failure.
With congestive heart failure, your heart doesn’t pump blood around your body as well as usual. Symptoms can include:
- shortness of breath, especially when doing physical activity
- swelling, typically in your ankles or feet
- rapid weight gain
- fatigue
In clinical trials, congestive heart failure wasn’t common with Avandia. You’re more likely to have this side effect if you take Avandia in combination with insulin. Taking Avandia with insulin is not recommended.
What you can do
Talk with your doctor about your risk of heart failure before starting treatment with Avandia. This medication isn’t recommended for people who already have congestive heart failure that’s causing symptoms. And if you have severe congestive heart failure, your doctor will likely not prescribe Avandia.
If you have new or worsening symptoms of congestive heart failure while taking Avandia, see your doctor right away.
If you have new or worsening heart failure, your doctor may prescribe medications to treat your condition. You may even need treatment in a hospital. Your doctor will also likely reduce your Avandia dosage or recommend that you stop taking the drug completely.
Bone fractures
Taking Avandia for a long time may weaken your bones. You may have an increased risk of bone fractures if you take Avandia for longer than a year. This risk increases if you are female.*
In long-term clinical trials, fractures of the upper arm, hand, or foot were common in females who took Avandia.
* Sex and gender exist on spectrums. Use of the “female” in this article refers to sex assigned at birth.
What you can do
Talk with your doctor about your risk of bone fractures before you start taking Avandia. This is especially important if you’re a female who is going through or has been through menopause. Menopause can weaken your bones and increase your risk of fractures.
Also talk with your doctor about ways to keep your bones healthy while taking Avandia. For example, your doctor may recommend increasing your intake of calcium and vitamin D. This could be through changing your diet or taking supplements.
Heart attack
Taking Avandia may raise your risk of heart attack. However, heart attack was rare in clinical trials of Avandia. Note that type 2 diabetes also raises your risk of heart disease and heart attack.
Symptoms of heart attack may include:
- a feeling of discomfort, pressure, crushing, squeezing, or pain in your chest
- chest pain that may spread into your shoulder, arm, back, or jaw
- shortness of breath
- dizziness or lightheadedness
- cold sweat
What you can do
Talk with your doctor about your risk of heart attack before you start treatment with Avandia. If you already have a high risk of heart disease or heart attack, your doctor will likely not prescribe Avandia.
If you have symptoms of a heart attack while taking Avandia, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. Your doctor will likely recommend that you stop taking Avandia.
Allergic reaction
As with most drugs, Avandia can cause an allergic reaction in some people. However, this side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials.
Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:
- skin rash
- itching
- flushing
- swelling under your skin, typically in your lips, eyelids, feet, or hands
- swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
What you can do
For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, call your doctor right away. They may recommend ways to ease your symptoms and determine whether you should keep taking Avandia. However, if your symptoms are serious and you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.
There are several precautions to consider before taking Avandia. This includes a
Boxed warning: Risk of congestive heart failure
Avandia has a
Other precautions
Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Avandia. This drug may not be the right treatment for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. The conditions and factors to consider include:
Heart problems. Avandia can sometimes cause congestive heart failure. Also, it may increase your risk of heart attack. If you have a heart problem such as angina, or you’ve had a heart attack in the past, you may be at increased risk of these side effects with Avandia. Talk with your doctor about whether Avandia is right for you.
Edema. Avandia can cause edema (buildup of fluid in your body). Sometimes, this can be severe and lead to serious conditions such as congestive heart failure. If you already have edema, Avandia could worsen your condition. Edema could raise your risk of congestive heart failure. Talk with your doctor about whether Avandia is safe for you to take.
Macular edema. Avandia may increase your risk of macular edema (fluid buildup in the back of your eye). Macular edema is a possible complication of diabetes. You should have eye tests to check for this condition as part of your ongoing diabetes care. If you already have macular edema, Avandia could make it worse. Your doctor can help determine whether Avandia is safe for you to take.
Overweight or obesity. Avandia commonly causes weight gain. If you’re overweight or obese, talk with your doctor about whether this medication is right for you. If you do take Avandia, talk with your doctor about ways to avoid gaining weight.
Liver problems. Avandia may cause liver problems in some people. If you already have liver problems, Avandia could make them worse. Your doctor will order blood tests to check your liver function from time to time while you take Avandia. If you already have liver problems, talk with your doctor about whether Avandia is safe for you to take.
Lack of ovulation. If you’re a premenopausal female* and you don’t ovulate, taking Avandia could cause you to ovulate. This may lead to pregnancy. You might not ovulate if you have irregular periods or certain conditions, such as polycystic ovary syndrome. If this applies to you, and you’re sexually active, talk with your doctor about your birth control needs while taking Avandia.
Other medications. If you take Avandia with other medications for diabetes, you may have a raised risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Also, taking Avandia with certain other medications may increase your risk of side effects. Be sure to talk with your doctor about all the medications you take before starting treatment with Avandia.
Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Avandia or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Avandia. Ask your doctor what other medications may be better options for you.
* Sex and gender exist on spectrums. Use of the “female” in this article refers to sex assigned at birth.
Alcohol and Avandia
Alcohol doesn’t directly interact with Avandia. However, drinking alcohol can affect your blood sugar levels.
Also, both alcohol and Avandia can cause headaches and affect your liver. Drinking alcohol with Avandia could increase your risk of liver problems. And if you have headaches while taking Avandia, drinking alcohol could make them worse.
If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about how much (if any) is safe to consume while taking Avandia.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking Avandia
It’s not known if Avandia is safe to take during pregnancy. In animal studies, Avandia didn’t affect the offspring of pregnant females given doses four times higher than those used in humans. However, animal studies don’t always predict what will happen in humans.
If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor about the best way to manage your blood sugar levels during your pregnancy. Note that if your diabetes isn’t well managed during pregnancy, it increases the risk of complications in both the pregnant person and their developing fetus.
It’s not known if Avandia passes into breast milk. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, talk with your doctor about the best way to feed your child while taking Avandia.
Like most medications, Avandia can cause some mild and serious side effects. Talk with your doctor about your risk of serious side effects with this medication. This is especially important if you have a heart condition. Your doctor can help you decide if Avandia or another medication is the best option for you. Your doctor can also tell you about the main side effects to watch for during treatment.
If you’d like to learn more about Avandia, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about side effects of taking the drug.
Besides talking with your doctor, you can do some research on your own. These articles might help:
- More information about Avandia. For details about other aspects of Avandia, refer to this article.
- Drug comparison. Learn how Avandia compares with Actos and metformin.
- A look at type 2 diabetes. For details about type 2 diabetes, see our diabetes hub, as well as this list of related articles.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.