US Pharm. 2011;36(6):8.
Gaithersburg, MD—Health care providers and patients and are now required to enroll in a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program in order to prescribe and receive rosiglitazone-containing medicines, including Avandia, Avandamet, and Avandaryl, which are used to treat type 2 diabetes. The restrictions are based on data that suggested an elevated risk of heart attacks in patients taking rosiglitazone. The Avandia-Rosiglitazone Medicines Access Program limits the use of rosiglitazone to patients already being treated with these drugs, those whose blood glucose levels cannot be controlled with other antidiabetics, and those who do not want to use pioglitazone-containing medicines (Actos, Actoplus Met, and Duetact). Patients enrolled in the REMS program will receive their prescription through specially certified mail order pharmacies. After November 18, 2011, rosiglitazone will no longer be available through retail pharmacies.To comment on this article, contact rdavidson@uspharmacist.com.
