Date of switch from diabetes drug Avandia to alternative announced

Following the decision last month by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to recommend the suspension of all forms of Avandia, also known as Rosiglitazone from European markets, the drug will not be available in the UK after October 21, 2010. After this date, now only 9 days away, all stocks will be recalled.
By the 21st of the month, all those who have been taking Avandia have to be reviewed and transferred onto an alternative treatment . Anyone who is still taking the drug and hasn’t sought advice from their healthcare professional should immediately make an appointment to discuss arrangement for an alternative treatment that best suits their needs.
The charity Diabetes UK has advised that anyone taking Avandia or Avandamet should consult with their healthcare team without delay to discuss switching treatments. However, they are also recommending that people taking the drugs should carry on taking their medication in the short term, unless they are experiencing adverse side effects, as it is crucial that diabetics maintain their blood glucose levels to prevent complications.
Anyone who does experience adverse side effects from taking a product that contains rosiglitazone should report it to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).