Is it true that drugs in the glitazone family aren safe?
Diabetes pills in this category are also called thiazolidinediones. The very first drug in this group, Rezulin, was taken off the market because it was considered unsafe. Studies of newer drugs in this group, Actos (pioglitazone) and Avandia (rosiglitazone), found that they were more harmful than helpful. Side effects from these drugs include swelling, hypoglycemia, weight gain, higher cholesterol levels, and a greater risk of bone fractures and heart failure. Although these drugs can help lower blood sugar, there’s no research showing that they can help stop complications of type 2 diabetes. These studies make it clear that the risks of taking either Actos or Avandia probably outweigh the benefits. We don’t recommend nor do we cover the cost of either Actos or Avandia because of the risks involved in taking these medicines. Will taking medicine for my diabetes make me gain weight? Insulin and sulfonylureas, a type of diabetes pill (brands include Glyburide and Glipizide), can cause a
