In the wake of several studies of the health risks associated with the diabetes drug Avandia, many experts now say there are no reasons to continue prescribing Avandia when safer and equally effective alternatives are available.

According to a July 2010 article published in USA Today, prescriptions of the drug have plummeted in recent years. In June 2007 there were 5.6 million Avandia prescriptions dispensed in the United States. By May 2010 that number had dropped to one million.

The Avandia decline began after a study by diabetes expert Dr. Steven Nissen was published by the New England Journal of Medicine in May 2007. Dr. Nissen’s study concluded that patients using Avandia to treat their diabetes symptoms were 64% more likely to die of heart problems and 43% more likely to suffer a heart attack than other patients.

A Food and Drug Administration advisory committee met last week to provide advice on whether further regulatory action is needed for Avandia. Of the 33 panel members, only three voted that the drug should continue to be sold with its present warnings unchanged.

The FDA has the final say on the committee’s recommendation and should make a decision within weeks. According to Dr. Nissen, Avandia prescriptions by U.S. doctors are likely to drop by 95% if the FDA decides to tighten restrictions.