Description

Actos ( Pioglitazone) may be used alone or in combination with sulfonylureas, metformin, or insulin to improve blood glucose control in type 2 diabetes

Manufacturer: IPCA		Average Delivery Time: 12 Days
Brand Name:		Exp. Date: Approx. March 2009

Pioglitazone is used to treat a type of diabetes mellitus called type 2 diabetes. It may be used alone, with insulin, with metformin, or with another oral medicine called a sulfonylurea. Pioglitazone is to be used when diet and exercise do not result in good blood sugar control .

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription .

This product is available in the following dosage forms:
Tablet
back to top
Before Using

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of pioglitazone in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established .

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatrics-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of pioglitazone in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related heart disease, which may require an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving pioglitazone .

Pioglitazone Side Effects: An Introduction
As with any medicine, there are possible side effects with pioglitazone hydrochloride (Actos®). However, not everyone who takes the drug will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate the medicine well. When pioglitazone side effects do occur, they are generally minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider.

(The side effects discussed below are not a complete list of side effects reported with pioglitazone. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list of pioglitazone side effects with you.)

Common Side Effects of Pioglitazone
Pioglitazone has been studied thoroughly in clinical trials where side effects seen with a group of people taking the drug are documented and compared to another group not taking the medicine. Based on these studies, the most common side effects of pioglitazone include:

Upper respiratory infections (similar to the common cold) -- in up to 13.2 percent of people
Headache -- up to 9.1 percent
Sinus infection or sinus irritation -- up to 6.3 percent
Muscle pain -- up to 5.4 percent
Tooth problems -- up to 5.3 percent
Sore throat -- up to 5.1 percent
Swelling or water weight gain (edema) -- up to 4.8 percent (see Actos and Weight Gain).