The type 2 medication rosiglitazone (Avandia) is safe for use in most people, says a team of researchers. The trial, funded by Avandia manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline, looked at about 4,500 people with type 2 diabetes who were taking metformin or a sulfonylurea. Participants were randomly assigned to either add rosiglitazone to their current medication or take a combination of metformin and a sulfonylurea. After an average of five years, researchers found that people in the rosiglitazone group had about the same risk of cardiovascular death and stroke as the control group. They also showed greater glucose control than those on just metformin and a sulfonylurea. The drug’s effect on heart attack risk—a major concern raised by a previous study—was slightly increased but not statistically significant. However, participants taking rosiglitazone had twice the risk of heart failure (a known side effect of rosiglitazone) as those who took the other meds. And women had double the risk of lower-limb fractures when taking rosiglitazone. Your doctor should weigh the medication’s risks with its benefits before prescribing it.