REZULIN SIDE EFFECTS

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 99-03-09 18:59:41 EST, you write:

<< He said that the dangers of the drug Rezulin were

the lesser of the two evils at this point >>

Becker: I have been on Rezulin since September of last year. There are two

serious side effects to Rezulin. One I'm sure you are well aware of and that

is possible, and sudden, liver failure. The first person to die of liver

failure due to Rezulin was one of the clinical trial test group subjects. She

took her monthly blood liver test and contiinued on with her life. About 10

days later she beame deathly ill and was rushed to the hospital in some kind

of coma. The test they took said she had life threatening liver failure.

Before they could get a liver to transplant into her she died. So, yes there

is this. So far I've had normal liver test. Instead of every month I will

now be going every 3 to 4 months.

The other side effect is mentioned but no importance is placed upon it (not

for me that is). That is that Rezulin produces hypoglycaemia (low blood

sugars). (Usually anything below 70mg/dl). You have to be really really

CAREFUL once you start on Rezulin. In my case, my blood sugar levels dropped

(on an a average) from over 200mg/dl to under 150mg/dl. Some doctors say

under 150mg/dl is 'good' for a diabetic, But it didn't stop there. My blood

sugars keep going lower. In October I had about 40 readings out of 120 that

were below 60mg/dl. Of those 40 at least half were below 50mg/dl! My montly

average for October was 130mg/dl.

November came and I wa still unaware of the damgers associated with Rezulin.

I only knew that the drug was giving me control of my diabetes for the first

time in 14 years! I saw this drug as the key to my slowing down the

complications I had (retinopathy, heart disease, major memory loss-short and

long term, circulation damage, blood vessel damage, severe- work stopping

neuropathy in both feet and legs, impotence and the big one, beside going

blind any day, I have kidney disease with failure very soon). So I needed

Rezulin!

In November, (my montly average was 125mg/dl) to make a long story short, I

'blacked out' because of low blood sugars. There was no one home to help me

and it was terrifying. I had never had a blood sugar reading below 150 in 14

years. Any way, I ended up falling down the stairs due to the 'black out'.

Got hurt really bad. The police were called when I finally crawled to the

phone. Parametics rush me to the hospital. At the house my blood sugar level

was at 35 but they figured it had dropped lower than that (25-30mg/dl). It

took me 5 weeks to recover form that incident of low blood sugar.

For the first time I realized that I could die from the low blood sugars.

Three times in December my wife had to physical shake and scream at me to come

out of my sleep. Blood was taken and my readings were in the upper 30'smg/dl.

Three times that if my wife had not awaken me I would have probably slipped

into a diabetic coma and all the complications that arise from that situation.

I conveyed my fear to my doctor and he said I had a right to be afraid.

Hypoglycaemia was dangerious. He started reducing my insulin (at the time I

was taking nearly 200 units a day),

January was a so so month with an average of 140mg/dl due to a virus I had.

Low blood sugar readings were still appearing at about 35 to 50 times a month.

In January the doctor lowered my insulin even lower (put me on a sliding scale

for Regular and reduced NPH) I was now taking only 100 to 120 units a day.

What a difference.

In February, due to the Rezulin, I was taking between 70 and 120 units of

Rezulin a day and my monthly average was 105mg/dl. Using my food intake and

plans for the day, I (with my doctors help) adjusted the insulin I took and

have been able to keep most blood sugar readings between 50mg/dl and 150mg/dl.

My HA1C was 14.7% when I first came to see the doctor in April/May of 98. In

that period of time my HA1C dropped to 7.1%!

So, there are dangers to Rezulin. But I took a chance and I won. If you are

really in need of getting your blood sugars lowered, Rezulin might be the

answer until a new drug comes along with less serious side effects. You and

your doctor will have to make that decision. I can only tell you what has

happened to me.

Hope this provides you with some more information on Rezulin.

God's Speed.

***Robin***