Stop it or you'll go blind: Actos Definitely Linked to Increased Blindness in Well Controlled Diabetics

Page changed: Actos and Avandia - Dangerous Diabetes Drugs

Cited brand new study published in an Opthalmology journal--not read by family doctors, alas, that demonstrated dramatically that Actos and Avandia both raise the risk of vision loss dramatically.

Glitazone Use Associated with Diabetic Macular Edema Donald S. Fong. Am J OphthVolume 147, Issue 4, Pages 583-586.e1 (April 2009)

This study analyzed the records of 170,000 people with diabetes treated by Kaiser Permanente Southern California. The researchers found that

In 2006, there were 996 new cases of ME. Glitazone users were more likely to develop ME in 2006 (odds ratio [OR], 2.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.4 to 3.0). After excluding patients who did not have the drug benefit, did not have an eye exam, and had a HgA1c <7.0, glitazone use was still associated with an increased risk of developing ME (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.4 to 1.8).

This means you are 60% more likely to develop retinal swelling leading to vision loss even with well controlled blood sugars if you take Actos or Avandia than if you don't.

It's worth noting, too, that the Science News report of this study adds, "Most of the glitazone users in the study were taking pioglitazone (Actos)."

Since the whole point of lowering blood sugar in diabetes is to avoid blindness, this study makes it crystal clear that no person with diabetes should be taking Actos or Avandia.

PRINT OUT THE ABSTRACT OF THIS STUDY AND GIVE IT TO YOUR FAMILY DOCTOR AT YOUR NEXT APPOINTMENT. YOU COULD SAVE SOMEONE'S VISION.