JEDDAH, 10 August 2007 — The Saudi Ministry of Health is to discuss the results of studies on Avandia, an anti-diabetes medicine also known as rosiglitazone, next week to see whether the medicine is safe for use. The meeting follows reports in the Jordanian media on Monday that a study in Jordan proved that the medicine could cause users to suffer heart attacks. However, the Saudi Ministry of Health said that the issue is under investigation and that the medicine has not been banned in any country.
“The study was small and results were published in a health magazine and not by an official organization. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said the medicine is under watch and has not yet been pulled off the market. The Saudi Ministry of Health has also not issued anything about it,” said Dr. Ali Al-Zawawi, general director of the General Administration for Medical Licensing at the Ministry of Health.
According to the Jordanian study, 13 children out of 200 diabetes patients that were given the medicine suffered health problems.
“It’s not a big study involving 100,000 people,” said Al-Zawawi.
The general director also advised diabetic patients with cardiovascular problems to check with their doctors before using the medicine. “Patients with heart problems have to check with their doctors if they think the medicine is having an affect on their heart problem,” he said.
Saudi pharmacies only provide Avandia on prescription.
