Q. My 86-year-old father was taking Avandia for diabetes. When concerns began to appear in the news, I did my own research and asked his doctor to take him off the drug because of fluid retention.
The difference is amazing. While he was on Avandia, he had two liters of fluid removed from around his lungs twice. His pants waist size had increased several times during that time. All of the fluid is gone now that he has been off Avandia for a while.
The doctors could not determine what had caused the fluid build-up, but I was relieved that I figured it out. Avandia should be reconsidered as a treatment for diabetes.
A. The maker of Avandia warns that this drug can cause fluid retention and congestive heart failure. Patients are cautioned that swelling, rapid weight gain, breathing problems or unusual tiredness may be serious and deserve immediate medical attention. It’s a shame your father’s physicians did not identify Avandia earlier as the cause of his fluid retention.
