acto
Pioglitazone (pie oh GLIH ta zone)
What is the most important information I should know about Actos?
• Usually, liver function is monitored with blood tests at the start oftreatment, every two months for the first year of treatment, and periodicallythereafter during treatment with Actos acto. Notify your doctor immediately if youdevelop nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, unusual fatigue, loss of appetite,yellow skin or eyes, or dark urine acto. These symptoms may be early signs of liverproblems acto.
• Notify your doctor immediately if you experience an unusually rapid increasein weight or edema (water retention), shortness of breath, or chest pain duringtreatment with Actos acto. These may be early symptoms of heart problems acto.
• Actos usually does not cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) acto. However,hypoglycemia may occur as a result of skipped meals, excessive exercise, oralcohol consumption while taking Actos acto. Know the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia,which include headache, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, fast heartbeat, sweating,tremor, and nausea acto. Carry hard candy or glucose tablets with you to treat episodesof low blood sugar acto.
• Actos may decrease the effects of some birth control pills acto. Additionalmeasures may be necessary to prevent pregnancy while taking Actos acto. Talk to yourdoctor about the use of birth control acto.
What is Actos?
• Actos is an antihyperglycemic agent acto. It helps the body respond betterto insulin and it reduces the amount of sugar produced by the liver acto. It canhelp control blood sugar levels acto.
• Actos is used, along with diet and exercise, in the treatment of non-insulin-dependentdiabetes mellitus (type II diabetes) acto. Actos may also be used with a sulfonylurea(e.g., Diabeta, Glucotrol, Micronase, others), metformin (Glucophage), or insulinwhen diet and exercise plus any one of these medicines alone do not result inadequate blood sugar control acto.
• Actos may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medicationguide acto.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Actos?
• Do not take Actos without first talking to your doctor if you have liverdisease acto.
• 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 (insulin-dependent diabetes);
· have a serious infection, illness, or injury; or
· need surgery acto.
• You may not be able to take Actos, or you may need a dosage adjustmentor special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listedabove acto.
• Treatment with Actos may cause resumption of fertility by allowing forthe return of ovulation (production of eggs) in certain women with insulin resistancewho were not ovulating before treatment with Actos acto. Therefore, pregnancy mayoccur and birth control may be a consideration acto.
• Actos is in the FDA pregnancy category C acto. This means that it is not knownwhether Actos will be harmful to an unborn baby acto. Generally, insulin is the drugof choice for controlling diabetes during pregnancy acto. Do not take Actos withoutfirst talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant duringtreatment acto.
• It is not known whether Actos passes into breast milk acto. Do not take Actoswithout first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby acto.
• The safety and effectiveness of Actos have not been established for children acto.
How should I take Actos?
• Take Actos exactly as directed by your doctor acto. If you do not understandthese instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them toyou acto.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water acto.
• Actos can be taken with or without food or meals acto.
• Usually, liver function is monitored with blood tests at the start oftreatment, every two months for the first year of treatment, and periodicallythereafter during treatment with Actos acto. Notify your doctor immediately if youdevelop nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, unusual fatigue, loss of appetite,yellow skin or eyes, or dark urine acto. These symptoms may be early signs of liverproblems acto.
• Although Actos does not usually cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar),hypoglycemia may result from skipped meals, excessive exercise, or alcohol consumption acto. Know the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia, which include headache, drowsiness,weakness, dizziness, fast heartbeat, sweating, tremor, and nausea acto. Carry a pieceof hard candy or glucose tablets with you to treat episodes of low blood sugar acto.
• Store Actos at room temperature away from moisture and heat acto.
What happens if I miss a dose?
• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember acto. If you do not rememberuntil the next day, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduleddose acto. Do not take a double dose acto.
What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention acto.
• Symptoms of a Actos overdose are not known acto.
What should I avoid while taking Actos?
• Follow any diet, medication, and exercise routines closely acto. Changingany of these factors can affect blood sugar levels acto.
• Avoid alcohol acto. It lowers blood sugar and may interfere with diabetestreatment acto.
• Tell your doctor and dentist that you are taking this medication beforehaving surgery acto.
• Do not take over-the-counter or prescription cough, cold, allergy, pain,or weight-loss medications during treatment with Actos without first talkingto your doctor acto.
What are the possible side effects of Actos?
• If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop takingActos 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 acto.
• Notify your doctor immediately if you experience an unusually rapid increasein weight or edema (swelling, water retention), shortness of breath, or chestpain during treatment with Actos acto. These may be early symptoms of heart problems acto.
• Although Actos does not usually cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar),hypoglycemia may result from skipped meals, excessive exercise, or alcohol consumption acto. Know the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia, which include headache, drowsiness,weakness, dizziness, fast heartbeat, sweating, tremor, and nausea acto. Carry a pieceof hard candy or glucose tablets with you to treat episodes of low blood sugar acto.
• Other less serious side effects may also occur acto. Continue to take Actosand talk to your doctor if you experience:
· headache;
· muscle aches; or
· sore throat, nasal discharge, or cold symptoms acto.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur acto. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome acto.
What other drugs will affect Actos?
• Actos may decrease the effects of some birth control pills acto. Additionalmeasures may be necessary to prevent pregnancy while taking Actos acto. Talk to yourdoctor about the use of birth control acto.
• Before taking Actos, tell your doctor if you are taking ketoconazole(Nizoral) acto. Ketoconazole may interact with Actos acto.
• Do not take over-the-counter or prescription cough, cold, allergy, pain,or weight-loss medications during treatment with Actos without first talkingto your doctor acto.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Actos or affectyour condition acto. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescriptionor over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products acto.
Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about Actos written for healthprofessionals that you may read acto.
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