Actos online

Item name:

Actos (pioglitazone) (Takeda Pharms)

Generic name:

pioglitazone (oral)

Brand names:

Actos

Item info:

Pioglitazone is an antihyperglycemic agent. It helps the body respond better to insulin and it reduces the amount of sugar produced by the liver. It can help control blood sugar levels. Pioglitazone is used, along with diet and exercise, in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Pioglitazone may also be used with a sulfonylurea (e.g., Diabeta, Glucotrol, Micronase, others), metformin (Glucophage), or insulin when diet and exercise plus any one of these medicines alone do not result in adequate blood sugar control.

Drug class:

An antihyperglycemic agent

Interactions:

Pioglitazone may decrease the effects of some birth control pills. Additional measures may be necessary to prevent pregnancy while taking pioglitazone. Talk to your doctor about the use of birth control.

Do not take over-the-counter or prescription cough, cold, allergy, pain, or weight-loss medications during treatment with pioglitazone without first talking to your doctor. Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with pioglitazone or affect your condition.

Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products.

Side effects:

If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking pioglitazone and seek emergency medical attention or notify your doctor immediately:

•  an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
•  nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, or loss of appetite;
•  unusual fatigue;
•  yellowing of the skin or eyes; or
•  dark urine.

Notify your doctor immediately if you experience an unusually rapid increase in weight or edema (swelling, water retention), shortness of breath, or chest pain during treatment with pioglitazone. These may be early symptoms of heart problems.

Although pioglitazone does not usually cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), hypoglycemia may result from skipped meals, excessive exercise, or alcohol consumption. Know the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia, which include headache, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, fast heartbeat, sweating, tremor, and nausea. Carry a piece of non-dietetic hard candy or glucose tablets with you to treat episodes of low blood sugar.

Other less serious side effects may also occur. Continue to take pioglitazone and talk to your doctor if you experience:

•  headache;
•  muscle aches;
•  sore throat, nasal discharge, or cold symptoms.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

Prescription needed / OTC:

Rx only

Dosage:

Take pioglitazone exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

Take each dose with a full glass of water.

Pioglitazone can be taken with or without food or meals.

It is important to take pioglitazone regularly to get the most benefit.

Your doctor may want you to have blood or urine tests or other medical evaluations during treatment with pioglitazone to monitor blood sugar levels, liver function, or other factors. Usually, liver function is monitored with blood tests at the start of treatment, every two months for the first year of treatment, and periodically thereafter during treatment with pioglitazone.

Notify your doctor immediately if you develop nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, unusual fatigue, loss of appetite, yellow skin or eyes, or dark urine. These symptoms may be early signs of liver problems.

Although pioglitazone does not usually cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), hypoglycemia may result from skipped meals, excessive exercise, or alcohol consumption. Know the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia, which include headache, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, fast heartbeat, sweating, tremor, and nausea. Carry a piece of non-dietetic hard candy or glucose tablets with you to treat episodes of low blood sugar.

Contraindications:

Do not take pioglitazone without first talking to your doctor if you have liver disease.

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you:

•  have heart failure or heart disease;
•  have edema (water retention or swelling);
•  have type 1 diabetes mellitus;
•  have a serious infection, illness, or injury; or
•  need surgery.

You may not be able to take pioglitazone, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above. Contact your doctor if you develop a fever or an infection, require surgery, or if you experience a serious injury. Illness or injury may cause a loss of blood sugar control and insulin (or an adjustment of a current insulin dose) may be required for a period of time.

Treatment with pioglitazone may cause resumption of fertility by allowing for the return of ovulation (production of eggs) in certain women with insulin resistance who were not ovulating before treatment with pioglitazone. Talk to your doctor about adequate forms of birth control while taking pioglitazone if birth control is desired.

Pioglitazone is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether pioglitazone will be harmful to an unborn baby. Generally, insulin is the drug of choice for controlling diabetes during pregnancy. Do not take pioglitazone without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether pioglitazone passes into breast milk. Do not take pioglitazone without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. The safety and effectiveness of pioglitazone have not been established for children.

Storage:

Store Actos at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

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• Actos
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