Category Archives: Drugs for Diabetes
“New” Drug for Diabetes
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration a few days ago announced its approval of Juvisync for treatment of type 2 diabetes. It’s just a combination of sitagliptin and simvastatin, drugs that have been on the market for years. Simvastatin isn’t … Continue reading
Filed under Drugs for Diabetes
France Pulling Diabetic Drug Pioglitazone From Pharmacy Shelves
Bloomberg reported yesterday that the French drug agency is pulling pioglitazone from the market in view of its recent association with bladder cancer. I mentioned this here May 14. Pioglitazone is sold in the U.S. as Actos. I don’t expect … Continue reading
Filed under Drugs for Diabetes
R.I.P., Rosiglitazone
Rosiglitazone is pretty much dead. Here’s the eulogy at the FDA website. Rare is the doctor who will jump through all the paperwork hoops when we have 10 other classes of drugs to treat diabetes, plus another, safer drug in … Continue reading
Filed under Drugs for Diabetes
Yet Another Diabetes Drug: Linagliptin
On May 2, 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the use of linagliptin for adults with type 2 diabetes. It’s in the class called DPP-4 inhibitors. You’ll see it sold in the U.S. as Tradjenta. How do they … Continue reading
Filed under Drugs for Diabetes
Cycloset (Bromocriptine) Finally on the Shelves at Your Pharmacy
More than a year after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Cycloset (bromocriptine mesylate) for treatment of type 2 diabetes, it’s now available at pharmacies. I updated my brief bromocriptine drug review of May 14, 2009. I assume it’s … Continue reading
Filed under Drugs for Diabetes
Heart and Stroke Patients: Avoid Weight-Loss Drug Sibutramine (Meridia)
The weight-loss drug sibutramine (Meridia) should be withdrawn from the U.S. market, suggests an editorialist in the September 2, 2010, New England Journal of Medicine. Based on a clinical study in the same issue, it’s more accurate to conclude that … Continue reading
Rosiglitazone Severely Restricted by FDA
MedPageToday reported yesterday on the U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s ruling that the diabetes drug rosiglitazone should be used in new patients only if blood sugars are not controlled with other diabetes drugs, such as pioglitazone. It sounds as if … Continue reading
Filed under Diabetes Complications, Drugs for Diabetes
Drug Review: Insulin
Insulin is life-saving for type 1 diabetics. Many type 2 diabetics will eventually, if not at the outset, need to take insulin for adequate control of blood sugars, which should help prevent diabetes complications. My comments here are simply a brief review … Continue reading
Filed under Drugs for Diabetes
Rosiglitazone On the Ropes
A week ago, MedPageToday reported that a British advisory commission recommended the diabetes drug rosiglitazone (Avandia) be withdrawn from the market. On July 6, I wrote about evidence that rosiglitazone users seem to incur a higher risk of stroke, heart failure, and death. … Continue reading
Filed under Drugs for Diabetes
Diabetes Consumes 7% of the UK’s Drug Budget
The BBC reports that drugs for diabetes account for 7% of the United Kingdom’s National Health Service’s prescription drug budget. They would spend less on diabetic drugs if more diabetics adhered to low-carb eating or the Mediterranean diet. Better yet, combine both … Continue reading
Filed under Drugs for Diabetes
