Lipid Effects of Avandia

The lipid effects of Avandia can be both positive and negative. Although Avandia was shown to increase HDL cholesterol ("good" cholesterol) by 11.4 to 14.2 percent in people taking the medicine during clinical studies, it also increased LDL cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol) by 14.1 to 18.6 percent.

 

Overview of the Lipid Effects of Avandia

Avandia® (rosiglitazone maleate) is a prescription medication used to treat type 2 diabetes. It is a member of the thiazolidinedione group of diabetes medications. Although Avandia has many beneficial effects on blood sugar, it may also have effects on good cholesterol (HDL), bad cholesterol (LDL), and free fatty acids.
 

Cholesterol Effects of Avandia: What Does the Research Show?

In studies, Avandia increased LDL cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol) by 14.1 to 18.6 percent. However, Avandia also increased HDL cholesterol ("good" cholesterol) by 11.4 to 14.2 percent. While these changes cause an increase in total cholesterol, they usually keep the cholesterol ratio (the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL) the same. In other words, Avandia increases both the good and the bad cholesterol by about the same amount.
 
(Click Cholesterol Guidelines for more information about cholesterol levels.)
 

Free Fatty Acids and Avandia

In the same studies, Avandia was shown to decrease free fatty acids by as much as 14.
 7 percent. Free fatty acids are related to triglycerides, but are not the same as triglycerides. In fact, triglyceride levels did not change in these studies. Free fatty acids are often higher in people who are obese or who have diabetes, and may be linked to insulin resistance or other problems with diabetes.
 
(Lipid Effects of Avandia Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;