actos drug
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 actos drug. Notify your doctor immediately if youdevelop nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, unusual fatigue, loss of appetite,yellow skin or eyes, or dark urine actos drug. These symptoms may be early signs of liverproblems actos drug.
• 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 actos drug. These may be early symptoms of heart problems actos drug.
• Actos usually does not cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) actos drug. However,hypoglycemia may occur as a result of skipped meals, excessive exercise, oralcohol consumption while taking Actos actos drug. Know the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia,which include headache, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, fast heartbeat, sweating,tremor, and nausea actos drug. Carry hard candy or glucose tablets with you to treat episodesof low blood sugar actos drug.
• Actos may decrease the effects of some birth control pills actos drug. Additionalmeasures may be necessary to prevent pregnancy while taking Actos actos drug. Talk to yourdoctor about the use of birth control actos drug.
What is Actos?
• Actos is an antihyperglycemic agent actos drug. It helps the body respond betterto insulin and it reduces the amount of sugar produced by the liver actos drug. It canhelp control blood sugar levels actos drug.
• Actos is used, along with diet and exercise, in the treatment of non-insulin-dependentdiabetes mellitus (type II diabetes) actos drug. 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 actos drug.
• Actos may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medicationguide actos drug.
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 actos drug.
• 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 actos drug.
• 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 actos drug.
• 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 actos drug. Therefore, pregnancy mayoccur and birth control may be a consideration actos drug.
• Actos is in the FDA pregnancy category C actos drug. This means that it is not knownwhether Actos will be harmful to an unborn baby actos drug. Generally, insulin is the drugof choice for controlling diabetes during pregnancy actos drug. Do not take Actos withoutfirst talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant duringtreatment actos drug.
• It is not known whether Actos passes into breast milk actos drug. Do not take Actoswithout first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby actos drug.
• The safety and effectiveness of Actos have not been established for children actos drug.
How should I take Actos?
• Take Actos exactly as directed by your doctor actos drug. If you do not understandthese instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them toyou actos drug.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water actos drug.
• Actos can be taken with or without food or meals actos drug.
• 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 actos drug. Notify your doctor immediately if youdevelop nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, unusual fatigue, loss of appetite,yellow skin or eyes, or dark urine actos drug. These symptoms may be early signs of liverproblems actos drug.
• Although Actos does not usually cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar),hypoglycemia may result from skipped meals, excessive exercise, or alcohol consumption actos drug. Know the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia, which include headache, drowsiness,weakness, dizziness, fast heartbeat, sweating, tremor, and nausea actos drug. Carry a pieceof hard candy or glucose tablets with you to treat episodes of low blood sugar actos drug.
• Store Actos at room temperature away from moisture and heat actos drug.
What happens if I miss a dose?
• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember actos drug. If you do not rememberuntil the next day, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduleddose actos drug. Do not take a double dose actos drug.
What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention actos drug.
• Symptoms of a Actos overdose are not known actos drug.
What should I avoid while taking Actos?
• Follow any diet, medication, and exercise routines closely actos drug. Changingany of these factors can affect blood sugar levels actos drug.
• Avoid alcohol actos drug. It lowers blood sugar and may interfere with diabetestreatment actos drug.
• Tell your doctor and dentist that you are taking this medication beforehaving surgery actos drug.
• 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 actos drug.
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 actos drug.
• 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 actos drug. These may be early symptoms of heart problems actos drug.
• Although Actos does not usually cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar),hypoglycemia may result from skipped meals, excessive exercise, or alcohol consumption actos drug. Know the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia, which include headache, drowsiness,weakness, dizziness, fast heartbeat, sweating, tremor, and nausea actos drug. Carry a pieceof hard candy or glucose tablets with you to treat episodes of low blood sugar actos drug.
• Other less serious side effects may also occur actos drug. Continue to take Actosand talk to your doctor if you experience:
· headache;
· muscle aches; or
· sore throat, nasal discharge, or cold symptoms actos drug.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur actos drug. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome actos drug.
What other drugs will affect Actos?
• Actos may decrease the effects of some birth control pills actos drug. Additionalmeasures may be necessary to prevent pregnancy while taking Actos actos drug. Talk to yourdoctor about the use of birth control actos drug.
• Before taking Actos, tell your doctor if you are taking ketoconazole(Nizoral) actos drug. Ketoconazole may interact with Actos actos drug.
• 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 actos drug.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Actos or affectyour condition actos drug. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescriptionor over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products actos drug.
Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about Actos written for healthprofessionals that you may read actos drug.
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