Actos Raises Fracture Risk 77% in Women 61% in Men

Page Changed: Actos and Avandia Dangerous Diabetes Drugs

Added study analyzing data from 84 339 patients from British Columbia, Canada, who began treatment with a thiazolidinedione or a sulfonylurea. The study found that use of Actos conferred a 77% higher risk of periphereral fracture (i.e. broken bones in arms and legs) for women and a 61% higher risk for men.

Thiazolidinediones and fractures in men and women. Dormuth CR, et al. Arch Intern Med. 2009 Aug 10;169(15):1395-402.

Despite overwhelming evidence from many studies cited on this page, doctors still call for "more study." While they are studying, patients taking Actos and Avandia are having their osteocytes--baby bone cells--converted to fat cells, which over time makes bones porous and prone to break. Reversing this damage once it occurs may be impossible, or a very slow process.