According to the ADA and the AHA, new guidelines published in CIRCULATION, the class of drugs called thiazolidinediones (TZDs) which include rosiglitazone (Avandia) and pioglitazone (Actos), must be used with special care in patients with heart failure. Congestive heart failure patients taking these drugs may experience fluid buildup causing greater failure. Those individuals with moderate to severe heart failure should avoid TZDs. Those who do not have symptoms of congestive heart failure, but whose hearts have impaired pumping ability, are able to use the drugs at a lower dosage, but they should be monitored for fluid retention.
