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