This blog tracks updates to the Blood Sugar 101 Web site.


Friday, June 24, 2011

Kombiglyze and Tradjenta--Ineffective, Expensive, DPP-4 Inhibitors with Scary Side Effects

Page Changed: Onglyza, Kombiglyze, Tradjenta -- Just like Januvia but Worse

Added the following:

Onglyza is now being being marketed as Kombiglyze, a pill that combines Onglyza and Metformin. Easily swayed doctors are therefore prescribing to newly diagnosed patients only the very expensive combo pill instead of the extremely cheap generic Metformin pill. Don't let your doctor prescribe this combo drug.

And added this:

As of Summer 2011 there is yet another FDA-approved DPP-4 inhibitor drug available that is very similar to Onglyza. It is named Tradjenta. Based on its prescribing information, which you can read HERE, it it shares with Onglyza the characteristics that it makes very little change in blood sugar, costs a fortune, and causes the same significant immune-system related side effects--most notably the permanent sinus headache/runny nose that is a result of DPP-4 inhibition in the sinues--as well as raising the risk of pancreatitis.

In patients whose A1cs averaged 8.1% and whose fasting blood sugar averaged 178.4 mg/dl Trajenta lowered A1c to a still dangerous average 7.5% and lowered the fasting blood sugar to a rampantly damaging average of 165.1 mg/dl.

You can lower your blood sugar far more just by following the advice you'll find HERE.I have heard from hundreds of people who have done just that without any drugs except generic metformin--or no drugs at all.

Chances are there will soon be a metformin-Trajenta combo drug. Avoid it. If you feel that despite the risks you want to take a DPP-4 inhibitor Januvia appears to be the one that lowers blood sugar the best, though it doesn't do all that good a job of it and will end up giving you significant side effects.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Actos Associated with Higher Bladder Cancer Risk & FDA Administers Avandia Wrist Slap

Page Changed: Actos and Avandia Dangerous Diabetes Drugs

Added the following text:

In June of 2011 the FDA confirmed that there was a heightened risk of bladder cancer with Actos.

FDA Drug Safety Communication: Update to ongoing safety review of Actos (pioglitazone) and increased risk of bladder cancer

FDA Imposes Tight Restrictions on Avandia Prescribing
In May of 2011 the FDA tightened the restrictions on prescribing Avandia but they did not take it off the market, and doctors can and do still prescribe it. The new restrictions state that patients who are now taking the drug will have to sign an informed consent statement acknowledging that they understand all the risks before they will be allowed to refill their prescriptions and that new patients will not be able to receive the drug unless their doctors certify that they are unable to control their blood sugar levels with other therapies and that medical problems preclude them from taking Avandia's primary competitor, Actos.

As you can see, this means nothing. Doctors who prescribe Avandia will keep on prescribing it. The FDA is not likely to take either of these dangerous drugs off the market until weeks before their patents expire. They are just too profitable.

Avandia (rosiglitazone): REMS - Risk of Cardiovascular Events includes Avandia, Avandamet, and Avandaryl