Is Avandia Safe? People Must Weigh Risks, Benefits of Diabetes Treatment

However, Frohnauer said, the controversy over the the drug's risks should cause doctors to carefully consider whether alternatives are more appropriate for some patients. "Doctors should consider medications like Actos, which works generally in the same way as Avandia, or other good replacements, depending upon the patient," Frohnauer said. Avandia and Actos work by increasing the body's sensitivity to insulin, a key protein needed for digestion that diabetics don't adequately produce. Local doctors say they have not received many calls from diabetic patients. "I have not received any calls in the last week," said Dr. Jane Korducki, a Franciscan Skemp endocrinologist who specializes in diabetes. "Nothing significantly has changed in the discussion with Avandia. "We've already had these discussions with our patients because we have known about the potential risks for some time, and we choose the medication that fits the patient's problem," she said. Korducki said patients with anxiety and concerns about the drug can consider alternative drugs. "But they should not stop suddenly taking Avandia because that could cause a whole set of consequences," she said. She said fewer new patients are taking Avandia due to concerns about the risks. "But Avandia works very well for decreasing insulin resistance and lowering blood sugars, so with the patient we come to a joint decision on whether to use that drug or even other classes of drugs," Korducki said. Frohnauer said other drugs are generally not as effective as Avandia in lowering blood sugars and directly reducing insulin resistance. "We're fairly conservative, and we don't race to put everyone on the drug," Frohnauer said. "It's not usually the first drug we try." Frohnauer said she has switched some patients from Avandia to Actos or other medications. But she warned that people should not make certain assumptions or jump to conclusions about Avandia. She said she has problems with the 2007 research, an analysis of several studies, because some studies did not have the best design or testing procedures. "That's why the FDA panel has struggled over this," Frohnauer said. "But the risk is still questionable, and it's better to err on the side of safety."