People in Cincinnati who need to take medication for their diabetes will be interested to learn of recent developments regarding diabetes drugs. Two diabetes drugs, which have both achieved sales of more than $2 billion in years past, have recently been deemed to be dangerous drugs by a group of researchers. The group of researchers will present their findings to the annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association.

The potentially dangerous drugs, known as Actos and Avandia, are some of the most prevalent diabetes drugs on the market. The researchers believe that both drugs raise the possibility of contracting an eye disease, which may cause blindness. The eye disease, known as diabetic macular edema, causes the retina to become swollen. Diabetics who take either of the two drugs are three to six times more likely to contract the disease. The drugs are also known to cause pulmonary edema, or fluid in the lungs, and may cause legs to swell with fluid.

Additionally, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently announced that Actos may also increase the likelihood of bladder cancer in regular users. In 2007, a study showed that Avandia caused an increased likelihood of heart attacks. Starting in November, Avandia will only be available through a special program.

The recent study involving Actos and Avandia considered over 100,000 people and indicated that diabetics who have a history of the eye disease as well as those who do not maintain their blood sugar are the most at risk.

Source: Bloomberg, "Takeda, Glaxo Diabetes Treatments Raise Risk of Eye Disease, Study Finds," Elizabeth Lopatto, 6/24/2011