A New England Journal of Medicine article suggests that Avandia significantly increases the risk of heart attacks and cardiovascular death. The NEJM article analyzes several clinical trials that compared patients taking Avandia, used to help control blood sugar in adults with Type-2 Diabetes, with those not using the drug.

The results indicate that Avandia users had a 64 percent increase of cardiac-related deaths and 43 percent increase in heart attacks. Common Avandia side effects include:

* Cough

* Cold

* Headache

* Swelling of sinuses

* Back pain

* Fluid retention

* Increased ovulation

* Low blood sugar levels when combined with other diabetes drugs