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Glucophage
(metformin), the most commonly prescribed drug for the treatment
of type 2 diabetes, is sometimes prescribed for patients also
suffering from congestive heart failure or kidney dysfunction
despite clear "black box" warnings on the drug's
packaging not to do so, according to a study published in
the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Researchers
at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill conducted
a study that showed 22 out of 100 randomly selected patients
on Glucophage had congestive heart failure, kidney dysfunction
or both.
"Our
findings are consistent with several recent studies in Europe
that documented similar rates of inappropriate metformin prescribing,"
said Dr. Cheryl Horlen, lead researcher. "We are concerned
that these patients may be at risk of a serious medical condition
known as lactic acidosis, which can be life-threatening."
"Although
this was a relative small study, the fact that almost one
in four prescriptions for metformin were being prescribed
against the black box warning may be significant," said
Russell Rothman of the UNC department of medicine faculty
and a Robert Woods Johnson Clinical Scholar. "With more
than 25 million prescriptions of metformin written a year,
the potential for adverse events needs to be taken very seriously.
More research will need to be performed to ensure that patients
are receiving optimal care."
Source:
Medical Week staff,
week of May 26, 2002
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