A new systemic review placed cloud of doubt over the health benefits versus risks of pioglitazone, an oral medicine widely prescribed for diabetes.

Pioglitazone is marketed in the United States by Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc., and Eli Lilly and Co. under the trade name Actos®.

According to lead author Bernd Richter, M.D, assistant professor in the department of endocrinology, diabetes and rheumatology at Heinrich-Heine University in Düsseldorf, Germany:

"Our results showed that published scientific studies of at least 24 weeks of pioglitazone treatment in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus did not provide convincing evidence that patient-oriented outcomes like mortality, morbidity, adverse effects and health-related quality of life are positively influenced by this drug.

Until new evidence becomes available, the benefit-risk ratio of pioglitazone therapy in type 2 diabetes mellitus remains unclear.

...not only did the review demonstrate no clear-cut benefit to using pioglitazone, but it also showed an increased occurrence of edema and heart failure - including heart failure requiring hospital admission - among patients taking the drug.

The said review appears in the current issue of The Cochrane Library, a publication of The Cochrane Collaboration.

Find more details from the Center for Health Advancement News.

Daily Diabetic has a similar entry.