What do the drug manufacturers say?
Alistair Benbow, European medical director for GlaxoSmithKline, said it was “well recognised” that this class of drug could cause fluid retention and the risk was “clearly stated” on its medication. He added that this could be resolved if the patient was well monitored and prescribed diuretics – drugs that prevent water retention by promoting more frequent urination. Takeda, which makes Actos, declined to comment. What do healthcare regulators say? The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency currently states that the drugs are a safe and effective treatment for type II diabetes. Both the MHRA and the European Medicines Agency, which licensed the drugs, said that people should not stop taking the drugs and if concerned they should consult their doctor. Nice said it would take into account any new information when it updated its guidance on diabetes in February, but that any decision to limit prescribing of the drug rested with the EMEA.
