20/10/2016

Actos(pioglitazone)dosing,indications,interactions,adverseeffects,andmore

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pioglitazone(Rx)BrandandOtherNames:Actos
Classes:Antidiabetics,Thiazolidinediones

PatientHandout
PatientEducation
pioglitazoneoral
IMPORTANT:HOWTOUSETHISINFORMATION:ThisisasummaryanddoesNOThaveallpossibleinformation
aboutthisproduct.Thisinformationdoesnotassurethatthisproductissafe,effective,orappropriateforyou.This
informationisnotindividualmedicaladviceanddoesnotsubstitutefortheadviceofyourhealthcareprofessional.
Alwaysaskyourhealthcareprofessionalforcompleteinformationaboutthisproductandyourspecifichealthneeds.
PIOGLITAZONEORAL
(PYEohGLItazone)
COMMONBRANDNAME(S):Actos
WARNING:Pioglitazonemayrarelycauseorworsenacertainheartproblem(congestiveheartfailure).Tellyour
doctorrightawayifyounoticeanysymptomsofheartfailure,including:swellingofthehands/feet,unusual/sudden
weightgain,troublebreathing,unusualtiredness.
Thismedicationisnotrecommendedforpeoplewithcertaintypesofheartfailure.Beforeusingthismedication,tell
yourdoctorifyouhaveheartfailure.
USES:
Pioglitazoneisanantidiabeticdrug(thiazolidinedionetype,alsocalled"glitazones")usedalongwithaproperdiet
andexerciseprogramtocontrolhighbloodsugarinpatientswithtype2diabetes.Itworksbyhelpingtorestoreyour
body'sproperresponsetoinsulin,therebyloweringyourbloodsugar.
Controllinghighbloodsugarhelpspreventkidneydamage,blindness,nerveproblems,lossoflimbs,andsexual
functionproblems.Propercontrolofdiabetesmayalsolessenyourriskofaheartattackorstroke.
Pioglitazoneisusedeitheraloneorincombinationwithotherantidiabeticmedications(suchasmetforminora
sulfonylureasuchasglyburide).
Talktoyourdoctorabouttherisksandbenefitsofpioglitazone.
HOWTOUSE:
ReadtheMedicationGuideprovidedbyyourpharmacistbeforeyoustartusingpioglitazoneandeachtimeyougeta

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Actos(pioglitazone)dosing,indications,interactions,adverseeffects,andmore

refill.Ifyouhaveanyquestions,askyourdoctororpharmacist.
Takethismedicationbymouthwithorwithoutfoodasdirectedbyyourdoctor,usuallyoncedaily.Dosageisbased
onyourmedicalcondition,responsetotreatment,andifyouaretakingotherantidiabeticdrugs.Yourdoctorwill
adjustyourdosebasedonyourbloodsugarlevelstofindthebestdoseforyou.Followyourdoctor'sdirections
carefully.
Takethismedicationregularlyinordertogetthemostbenefitfromit.Remembertouseitatthesametimeeach
day.
Ifyouarealreadytakinganotherantidiabeticdrug(suchasmetforminorasulfonylurea),followyourdoctor's
directionscarefullyforstopping/continuingtheolddrugandstartingthismedication.Carefullyfollowthemedication
treatmentplan,mealplan,andexerciseprogramyourdoctorhasrecommended.
Checkyourbloodsugarregularlyasdirectedbyyourdoctor.Keeptrackoftheresults,andsharethemwithyour
doctor.Tellyourdoctorifyourbloodsugarmeasurementsaretoohighortoolow.Yourdosage/treatmentmayneed
tobechanged.Itmaytakeupto2to3monthsbeforethefullbenefitofthisdrugtakeseffect.
SIDEEFFECTS:
SeealsoWarningsection.
Sorethroat,musclepain,weightgain,ortoothproblemsmayoccur.Ifanyoftheseeffectspersistorworsen,notify
yourdoctororpharmacistpromptly.
Rememberthatyourdoctorhasprescribedthismedicationbecauseheorshehasjudgedthatthebenefittoyouis
greaterthantheriskofsideeffects.Manypeopleusingthismedicationdonothaveserioussideeffects.
Tellyourdoctorrightawayifyouhaveanyserioussideeffects,including:new/worseningvisionproblems(suchas
blurredvision),bonefracture,reddishcoloredurine,urgentneedtourinate,painwhileurinating.
Pioglitazonemayrarelycauseliverdisease.Tellyourdoctorrightawayifyoudevelopsymptomsofliverdisease,
including:darkurine,yellowingofeyes/skin,persistentnausea/vomiting,stomach/abdominalpain.
Pioglitazonedoesnotusuallycauselowbloodsugar(hypoglycemia).Lowbloodsugarmayoccurifthisdrugis
prescribedwithotherantidiabeticmedications(suchasinsulinorasulfonylurea).Lowbloodsugarismorelikelyif
youdrinklargeamountsofalcohol,dounusuallyheavyexercise,ordonotconsumeenoughcaloriesfromfood.To
helppreventlowbloodsugar,eatmealsonaregularschedule,anddonotskipmeals.Checkwithyourdoctoror
pharmacisttofindoutwhatyoushoulddoifyoumissameal.
Symptomsoflowbloodsugarincludesuddensweating,shaking,fastheartbeat,hunger,blurredvision,dizziness,or
tinglinghands/feet.Itisagoodhabittocarryglucosetabletsorgeltotreatlowbloodsugar.Ifyoudon'thavethese
reliableformsofglucose,rapidlyraiseyourbloodsugarbyeatingaquicksourceofsugarsuchastablesugar,
honey,orcandy,ordrinkfruitjuiceornondietsoda.Tellyourdoctorrightawayaboutthereactionandtheuseof
thisproduct.
Symptomsofhighbloodsugar(hyperglycemia)includethirst,increasedurination,confusion,drowsiness,flushing,
rapidbreathing,orfruitybreathodor.Ifthesesymptomsoccur,tellyourdoctorrightaway.Yourdosagemayneedto
beincreased.
Averyseriousallergicreactiontothisdrugisrare.However,getmedicalhelprightawayifyounoticeanyofthe
followingsymptomsofaseriousallergicreaction:rash,itching/swelling(especiallyoftheface/tongue/throat),
dizziness,troublebreathing.
Thisisnotacompletelistofpossiblesideeffects.Ifyounoticeothereffectsnotlistedabove,contactyourdoctoror
pharmacist.
IntheUS
Callyourdoctorformedicaladviceaboutsideeffects.YoumayreportsideeffectstoFDAat1800FDA1088orat
www.fda.gov/medwatch.
InCanadaCallyourdoctorformedicaladviceaboutsideeffects.YoumayreportsideeffectstoHealthCanadaat
18662342345.
PRECAUTIONS:
Beforetakingpioglitazone,tellyourdoctororpharmacistifyouareallergictoitorifyouhaveanyotherallergies.
Thisproductmaycontaininactiveingredients,whichcancauseallergicreactionsorotherproblems.Talktoyour
pharmacistformoredetails.
Beforeusingthismedication,tellyourdoctororpharmacistyourmedicalhistory,especiallyof:heartdisease(such
ascongestiveheartfailure,chestpain),liverdisease,fluidinyourlungs,swelling(edema),anemia,acertaineye
problem(macularedema),bladdercancer.
Youmayexperienceblurredvision,dizziness,ordrowsinessduetoextremelyloworhighbloodsugarlevels.Donot
drive,usemachinery,ordoanyactivitythatrequiresalertnessorclearvisionuntilyouaresureyoucanperform
suchactivitiessafely.
Limitalcoholwhiletakingthismedicationbecauseitcanincreasetheriskofdevelopinglowbloodsugar.
Itmaybehardertocontrolyourbloodsugarwhenyourbodyisstressed(suchasduetofever,infection,injury,or
surgery).Consultyourdoctorbecauseincreasedstressmayrequireachangeinyourtreatmentplan,medications,or
bloodsugartesting.
Beforehavingsurgery,tellyourdoctorordentistaboutalltheproductsyouuse(includingprescriptiondrugs,
nonprescriptiondrugs,andherbalproducts).
Pioglitazonemayincreasetheriskofbonefractureinwomen(usuallyintheupperarm,hand,orfoot).Seealso
Notessection.
Pioglitazonecancausechangesinthemenstrualcycle(promoteovulation)andincreasetheriskofbecoming
pregnant.Consultyourdoctororpharmacistabouttheuseofreliablebirthcontrolwhileusingthismedication.
Thismedicationshouldbeusedonlywhenclearlyneededduringpregnancy.Discusstherisksandbenefitswithyour
doctor.Yourdoctormaysubstituteinsulinforthisdrugduringyourpregnancy.Followallinstructionscarefully.
Itisnotknownwhetherthisdrugpassesintobreastmilk.Consultyourdoctorbeforebreastfeeding.
DRUGINTERACTIONS:
Druginteractionsmaychangehowyourmedicationsworkorincreaseyourriskforserioussideeffects.This
documentdoesnotcontainallpossibledruginteractions.Keepalistofalltheproductsyouuse(including

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prescription/nonprescriptiondrugsandherbalproducts)andshareitwithyourdoctorandpharmacist.Donotstart,
stop,orchangethedosageofanymedicineswithoutyourdoctor'sapproval.
Othermedicationscanaffecttheremovalofpioglitazonefromyourbody,whichmayaffecthowpioglitazoneworks.
Examplesincludegemfibrozil,rifamycinsincludingrifampin,amongothers.
Betablockermedications(suchasmetoprolol,propranolol,glaucomaeyedropssuchastimolol)maypreventthe
fast/poundingheartbeatyouwouldusuallyfeelwhenyourbloodsugarlevelfallstoolow(hypoglycemia).Other
symptomsoflowbloodsugar,suchasdizziness,hunger,orsweating,areunaffectedbythesedrugs.
Manydrugscanaffectyourbloodsugarlevels,makingitmoredifficulttocontrolyourbloodsugar.Beforeyoustart,
stop,orchangeanymedication,talkwithyourdoctororpharmacistabouthowthemedicationmayaffectyourblood
sugar.Checkyourbloodsugarlevelsregularlyasdirectedbyyourdoctor.Tellyourdoctorabouttheresultsandof
anysymptomsofhighorlowbloodsugar.(SeealsoSideEffectssection.)Yourdoctormayneedtoadjustyouranti
diabeticmedication,exerciseprogram,ordiet.
OVERDOSE:
Ifoverdoseissuspected,contactapoisoncontrolcenteroremergencyroomrightaway.USresidentscancalltheir
localpoisoncontrolcenterat18002221222.Canadaresidentscancallaprovincialpoisoncontrolcenter.
NOTES:
Donotsharethismedicationwithothers.
Youshouldattendadiabeteseducationprogramtolearnmoreaboutdiabetesandalltheimportantaspectsofits
treatment,includingmeals/diet,exercise,personalhygiene,medications,andgettingregulareye/foot/medical
exams.
Lifestylechangesthathelppromotehealthybonesincludeincreasingweightbearingexercise,eatingwellbalanced
mealscontainingadequatecalciumandvitaminD,stoppingsmoking,andlimitingalcohol.Consultyourdoctorto
seeifyouneedtotakecalcium/vitaminDsupplementsanddiscusslifestylechangesthatmightbenefityou.
Keepallmedicalappointments.Laboratoryand/ormedicaltests(suchasliverfunctiontests,bloodglucose,
hemoglobinA1c,completebloodcounts,eyeexams)shouldbeperformedperiodicallytocheckforsideeffectsand
monitoryourresponsetotreatment.Checkyourbloodsugarlevelsregularlyasdirected.
MISSEDDOSE:
Ifyoumissadose,useitassoonasyouremember.Ifitisnearthetimeofthenextdose,skipthemisseddose
andresumeyourusualdosingschedule.Donotdoublethedosetocatchup.
STORAGE:
Storeatroomtemperatureawayfromlightandmoisture.Donotstoreinthebathroom.Keepallmedicinesaway
fromchildrenandpets.
Donotflushmedicationsdownthetoiletorpourthemintoadrainunlessinstructedtodoso.Properlydiscardthis
productwhenitisexpiredornolongerneeded.Consultyourpharmacistorlocalwastedisposalcompany.
MEDICALALERT:Yourconditioncancausecomplicationsinamedicalemergency.Forinformationaboutenrolling
inMedicAlert,call18886334298(US)or18006681507(Canada).
InformationlastrevisedOctober2015.Copyright(c)2015FirstDatabank,Inc.

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