| Actos (pioglitazone) side effects |
What is Actos used for?
Actos, in addition to diet and exercise, improves blood sugar control in patients with type 2
diabetes (non-insulin dependent diabetes). Actos can be used alone or in combination with
a sulfonylurea, metformin, or insulin when diet, exercise, and one of these agents or diet,
exercise, plus Actos alone are not are not enough to control blood sugar.
Who should not take Actos?
Do not take Actos for Type 1 diabetes (juvenile diabetes) or diabetic ketoacidosis.
If you have heart failure, fluid retention or active liver disease your health care provider will
evaluate you to decide if Actos is right for you.
Reports of PatientsÂ’ Experiences Since Actos Became Available:
There have been reports of inflammation of the liver (hepatitis) and elevated liver
enzymes. It has not been determined whether these events are directly related to Actos. It
is recommended that patients taking Actos have their liver enzymes monitored periodically.
General Precautions with Actos:
Actos is in the same class of drugs as Rezulin, which has been associated with rare but
serious liver injury, including liver failure leading to transplant or death. Because the liver
safety profile of Actos is not fully determined yet, your doctor will do blood tests that
evaluate your liver before starting you on Actos. These blood tests should be repeated
every two months for the first year, then regularly after that.
Call your health care provider right away if you develop nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, a
feeling of tiredness or having no energy, loss of appetite, dark urine, or jaundice (yellow
coloring of eyes and skin). These may be the symptoms of liver problems.
Patients who experience an unusually rapid increase in weight or retain fluid (edema) or
who develop shortness of breath or other symptoms of heart failure while on Actos should
immediately report these symptoms to their health care provider.
When taking Actos with insulin or certain other oral diabetes medicines, there is a risk of
your blood sugar becoming dangerously low. Ask your health care provider about
symptoms of low blood sugar, conditions that make low blood sugar more likely, and what to
do if you get it. Make sure to explain to family members.
If you are a woman who has not reached menopause but have not had menstrual periods;
you may become pregnant unless you use an effective method of birth control. Actos, like
other drugs in this class, may cause insulin resistant women to start ovulating again.
Women should tell their doctor if they notice any changes in their monthly menstrual cycle.
During periods of stress on the body, such as fever, trauma, infection, or surgery, your
medication requirements may change; contact your health care provider promptly.
What should I tell my doctor or health care provider?
Women taking oral birth control pills should talk to their health care provider when taking
Actos, because the effectiveness of oral birth control pills can be reduced.
Tell your health care provider if you are trying to become pregnant, are already pregnant,
or are breast-feeding.
Because certain other medications may interact with Actos, review all medications that you
are taking with your health care provider, including those that you take without a
prescription.
What are some possible side effects of Actos? (This list is not a complete list of side
effects reported with Actos. Your health care provider can discuss with you a more
complete list of side effects.)
cough or cold
headache
inflammation of the sinuses or throat
muscle pain
swelling or fluid retention
[1] Actos Heart Failure Warning Strengthened in Canada www.aboutlawsuits.com
December 22nd, 2008 [2] Women Have Double the Fracture Risk with Avandia and
Actos www.diabeteshealth.com22 December 2008
Actos, in addition to diet and exercise, improves blood sugar control in patients with type 2
diabetes (non-insulin dependent diabetes). Actos can be used alone or in combination with
a sulfonylurea, metformin, or insulin when diet, exercise, and one of these agents or diet,
exercise, plus Actos alone are not are not enough to control blood sugar.
Who should not take Actos?
Do not take Actos for Type 1 diabetes (juvenile diabetes) or diabetic ketoacidosis.
If you have heart failure, fluid retention or active liver disease your health care provider will
evaluate you to decide if Actos is right for you.
Reports of PatientsÂ’ Experiences Since Actos Became Available:
There have been reports of inflammation of the liver (hepatitis) and elevated liver
enzymes. It has not been determined whether these events are directly related to Actos. It
is recommended that patients taking Actos have their liver enzymes monitored periodically.
General Precautions with Actos:
Actos is in the same class of drugs as Rezulin, which has been associated with rare but
serious liver injury, including liver failure leading to transplant or death. Because the liver
safety profile of Actos is not fully determined yet, your doctor will do blood tests that
evaluate your liver before starting you on Actos. These blood tests should be repeated
every two months for the first year, then regularly after that.
Call your health care provider right away if you develop nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, a
feeling of tiredness or having no energy, loss of appetite, dark urine, or jaundice (yellow
coloring of eyes and skin). These may be the symptoms of liver problems.
Patients who experience an unusually rapid increase in weight or retain fluid (edema) or
who develop shortness of breath or other symptoms of heart failure while on Actos should
immediately report these symptoms to their health care provider.
When taking Actos with insulin or certain other oral diabetes medicines, there is a risk of
your blood sugar becoming dangerously low. Ask your health care provider about
symptoms of low blood sugar, conditions that make low blood sugar more likely, and what to
do if you get it. Make sure to explain to family members.
If you are a woman who has not reached menopause but have not had menstrual periods;
you may become pregnant unless you use an effective method of birth control. Actos, like
other drugs in this class, may cause insulin resistant women to start ovulating again.
Women should tell their doctor if they notice any changes in their monthly menstrual cycle.
During periods of stress on the body, such as fever, trauma, infection, or surgery, your
medication requirements may change; contact your health care provider promptly.
What should I tell my doctor or health care provider?
Women taking oral birth control pills should talk to their health care provider when taking
Actos, because the effectiveness of oral birth control pills can be reduced.
Tell your health care provider if you are trying to become pregnant, are already pregnant,
or are breast-feeding.
Because certain other medications may interact with Actos, review all medications that you
are taking with your health care provider, including those that you take without a
prescription.
What are some possible side effects of Actos? (This list is not a complete list of side
effects reported with Actos. Your health care provider can discuss with you a more
complete list of side effects.)
cough or cold
headache
inflammation of the sinuses or throat
muscle pain
swelling or fluid retention
[1] Actos Heart Failure Warning Strengthened in Canada www.aboutlawsuits.com
December 22nd, 2008 [2] Women Have Double the Fracture Risk with Avandia and
Actos www.diabeteshealth.com22 December 2008
 |  |  |  |  |
NEWS 2008 Health Canada has said that the warning label information about potential
Actos heart failure side effects will be strengthened to indicate that the diabetes drug
should not be used in patients with pre-existing heart failure or taken together with
metformin and a sulfonylurea. [1]
Avandia (rosiglitazone) and Actos (pioglitazone), two medications used to lower blood
sugar in type 2 patients, double the risk of fractures in women, but not in men, says a new
study. [2]
Actos heart failure side effects will be strengthened to indicate that the diabetes drug
should not be used in patients with pre-existing heart failure or taken together with
metformin and a sulfonylurea. [1]
Avandia (rosiglitazone) and Actos (pioglitazone), two medications used to lower blood
sugar in type 2 patients, double the risk of fractures in women, but not in men, says a new
study. [2]
THIS WEBSITE TALKS ABOUT THE SIDE EFFECTS AND THE POTENTIAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF HERBS, SUPPLEMENTS,
PHYTONUTRIENTS AND DRUG PRODUCTS. THIS WEBSITE ALSO TALKS ABOUT SOME POPULAR HEALTH ISSUES AND DISEASES.
ARTICLES IN THIS WEB SITE IS FOR YOUR REFERENCE ONLY. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION, YOU SHOULD CONSULT WITH YOUR
DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2008. DO NOT COPY NOR TRANSFER ARTICLES TO OTHER WEBSITES NOR OTHER
FORMS OF PUBLICATIONS. Privacy Policy. ARTICLE INDEX
PHYTONUTRIENTS AND DRUG PRODUCTS. THIS WEBSITE ALSO TALKS ABOUT SOME POPULAR HEALTH ISSUES AND DISEASES.
ARTICLES IN THIS WEB SITE IS FOR YOUR REFERENCE ONLY. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION, YOU SHOULD CONSULT WITH YOUR
DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2008. DO NOT COPY NOR TRANSFER ARTICLES TO OTHER WEBSITES NOR OTHER
FORMS OF PUBLICATIONS. Privacy Policy. ARTICLE INDEX
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