The FDA has just approved a new drug for type 2 diabetes. Called Victoza (liraglutide), this drug is administered as an injection once a day. Victoza can help lower blood sugars in combination with changes in duet, and exercise.
Victoza is not the drug of first choice for diabetics and is only approved for use in individuals who have fail to lower blood sugars with diet and exercise.
The drug belong to call of drugs known as glucagon-like peptides receptor agonists and helps the pancreas manufacture more insulin following a meal.
Five large trials have shown that Victoza works quite well in diabetics. However, one major side effect of Victoza is that a number of individuals did develop pancreatitis (painful inflammatory disorder of the pancreas).
The recommendations are that Victoza should be stopped when patients experience abdominal pain and should not be restarted if blood tests confirm the presence of pancreatitis. Moreover, Victoza should be used with great caution in individuals who have had previous episodes of pancreatitis.
Unlike other diabetic drugs, Victoza does not have any damaging effects on the heart.
Other points of note is that there is also concern that Victoza may increase the risk of thyroid cancer and induce allergic skin reactions.
At the moment, Victoza is not as a first line treatment for type 2 diabetes until more is known about the drug. Because of its potential complications, Victoza should only be taken by individuals whose risk of diabetes outweighs concern for pancreatitis or cancer of the thyroid.
The drug is made by Novo Nordisk and does not come cheap. A single (1.2 mg) dose costs $8 a day. Considering its potential for harm and cost, diabetic patients are best advised to start altering their diet and enter an exercise program. Lifestyle alterations to reduce blood sugar do work, can be done safely and are devoid of complications.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment