information on diabetes medication actos

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 information on diabetes medication actos. Notify your doctor immediately if youdevelop nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, unusual fatigue, loss of appetite,yellow skin or eyes, or dark urine information on diabetes medication actos. These symptoms may be early signs of liverproblems information on diabetes medication actos.
• 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 information on diabetes medication actos. These may be early symptoms of heart problems information on diabetes medication actos.
• Actos usually does not cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) information on diabetes medication actos. However,hypoglycemia may occur as a result of skipped meals, excessive exercise, oralcohol consumption while taking Actos information on diabetes medication actos. Know the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia,which include headache, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, fast heartbeat, sweating,tremor, and nausea information on diabetes medication actos. Carry hard candy or glucose tablets with you to treat episodesof low blood sugar information on diabetes medication actos.
• Actos may decrease the effects of some birth control pills information on diabetes medication actos. Additionalmeasures may be necessary to prevent pregnancy while taking Actos information on diabetes medication actos. Talk to yourdoctor about the use of birth control information on diabetes medication actos.

What is Actos?
• Actos is an antihyperglycemic agent information on diabetes medication actos. It helps the body respond betterto insulin and it reduces the amount of sugar produced by the liver information on diabetes medication actos. It canhelp control blood sugar levels information on diabetes medication actos.
• Actos is used, along with diet and exercise, in the treatment of non-insulin-dependentdiabetes mellitus (type II diabetes) information on diabetes medication actos. 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 information on diabetes medication actos.
• Actos may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medicationguide information on diabetes medication actos.

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 information on diabetes medication actos.
• 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 information on diabetes medication actos.
• 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 information on diabetes medication actos.
• 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 information on diabetes medication actos. Therefore, pregnancy mayoccur and birth control may be a consideration information on diabetes medication actos.
• Actos is in the FDA pregnancy category C information on diabetes medication actos. This means that it is not knownwhether Actos will be harmful to an unborn baby information on diabetes medication actos. Generally, insulin is the drugof choice for controlling diabetes during pregnancy information on diabetes medication actos. Do not take Actos withoutfirst talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant duringtreatment information on diabetes medication actos.
• It is not known whether Actos passes into breast milk information on diabetes medication actos. Do not take Actoswithout first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby information on diabetes medication actos.
• The safety and effectiveness of Actos have not been established for children information on diabetes medication actos.

How should I take Actos?
• Take Actos exactly as directed by your doctor information on diabetes medication actos. If you do not understandthese instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them toyou information on diabetes medication actos.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water information on diabetes medication actos.
• Actos can be taken with or without food or meals information on diabetes medication 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 information on diabetes medication actos. Notify your doctor immediately if youdevelop nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, unusual fatigue, loss of appetite,yellow skin or eyes, or dark urine information on diabetes medication actos. These symptoms may be early signs of liverproblems information on diabetes medication actos.
• Although Actos does not usually cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar),hypoglycemia may result from skipped meals, excessive exercise, or alcohol consumption information on diabetes medication actos. Know the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia, which include headache, drowsiness,weakness, dizziness, fast heartbeat, sweating, tremor, and nausea information on diabetes medication actos. Carry a pieceof hard candy or glucose tablets with you to treat episodes of low blood sugar information on diabetes medication actos.
• Store Actos at room temperature away from moisture and heat information on diabetes medication actos.

What happens if I miss a dose?
• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember information on diabetes medication actos. If you do not rememberuntil the next day, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduleddose information on diabetes medication actos. Do not take a double dose information on diabetes medication actos.

What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention information on diabetes medication actos.
• Symptoms of a Actos overdose are not known information on diabetes medication actos.

What should I avoid while taking Actos?
• Follow any diet, medication, and exercise routines closely information on diabetes medication actos. Changingany of these factors can affect blood sugar levels information on diabetes medication actos.
• Avoid alcohol information on diabetes medication actos. It lowers blood sugar and may interfere with diabetestreatment information on diabetes medication actos.
• Tell your doctor and dentist that you are taking this medication beforehaving surgery information on diabetes medication actos.
• 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 information on diabetes medication actos.

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 information on diabetes medication actos.
• 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 information on diabetes medication actos. These may be early symptoms of heart problems information on diabetes medication actos.
• Although Actos does not usually cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar),hypoglycemia may result from skipped meals, excessive exercise, or alcohol consumption information on diabetes medication actos. Know the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia, which include headache, drowsiness,weakness, dizziness, fast heartbeat, sweating, tremor, and nausea information on diabetes medication actos. Carry a pieceof hard candy or glucose tablets with you to treat episodes of low blood sugar information on diabetes medication actos.
• Other less serious side effects may also occur information on diabetes medication actos. Continue to take Actosand talk to your doctor if you experience:
· headache;
· muscle aches; or
· sore throat, nasal discharge, or cold symptoms information on diabetes medication actos.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur information on diabetes medication actos. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome information on diabetes medication actos.

What other drugs will affect Actos?
• Actos may decrease the effects of some birth control pills information on diabetes medication actos. Additionalmeasures may be necessary to prevent pregnancy while taking Actos information on diabetes medication actos. Talk to yourdoctor about the use of birth control information on diabetes medication actos.
• Before taking Actos, tell your doctor if you are taking ketoconazole(Nizoral) information on diabetes medication actos. Ketoconazole may interact with Actos information on diabetes medication actos.
• 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 information on diabetes medication actos.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Actos or affectyour condition information on diabetes medication actos. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescriptionor over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products information on diabetes medication actos.

Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about Actos written for healthprofessionals that you may read information on diabetes medication actos.

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