Avandia Side Effects

Although most people tolerate Avandia well, there are some potential side effects of the medication, such as upper respiratory infections, headaches, or back pain. In most cases, Avandia side effects are minor and can be easily treated by you or your healthcare provider. However, there are several less common (but more serious) side effects of Avandia that you should report to your healthcare provider, such as trouble breathing, a rapid increase in weight, or vision changes.

 

Avandia Side Effects: An Introduction

As with any medicine, there are possible side effects of Avandia® (rosiglitazone maleate). However, not everyone who takes Avandia will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate the drug well. When side effects do occur, in most cases they are minor and either require no treatment or can be easily treated by you or your healthcare provider.
 
(The Avandia side effects discussed below are not a complete list of the side effects reported with Avandia. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list of side effects with you.)
 

Common Side Effects of Avandia

Avandia has been studied thoroughly in clinical trials, with many people having been evaluated.
 In these studies, the side effects occurring in a group of people taking the drug are always documented and compared to side effects that occur in a similar group of people not taking the medicine. Based on these studies, the most common side effects of Avandia included:
 
  • Upper respiratory infections (similar to the common cold) -- occurring in up to 9.9 percent of people
  • Broken bones in women (especially in the arm, hand, or foot) -- up to 9.3 percent of women
  • Injury -- in up to 7.6 percent
  • Headache -- in up to 5.6 percent
  • Swelling or water weight gain (edema) -- in up to 4.8 percent (see Avandia and Weight Gain)
  • Back pain -- in up to 4 percent
  • Anemia -- in up to 1.9 percent.
     
(Click Lipid Effects of Avandia for more information about other possible Avandia side effects.)
 
(Avandia Side Effects Continued: Page 2)
Add this article to your Favorites     Email this article     Print
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;
Other Articles in This eMedTV Presentation