side effects avandia side effects

What is the most important information I should know about Avandia?
• 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 Avandia side effects avandia side effects. Notify your doctor immediately ifyou develop nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, unusual fatigue, loss of appetite,yellow skin or eyes, or dark urine side effects avandia side effects. These symptoms may be early signs of liverproblems side effects avandia side effects.
• Notify your doctor immediately if you experience an unusually rapid increasein weight or edema (water retention), shortness of breath, or chest pain duringtreatment with Avandia side effects avandia side effects. These may be early symptoms of heart problems side effects avandia side effects.
• Avandia usually does not cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) side effects avandia side effects. However,hypoglycemia may occur as a result of skipped meals, excessive exercise, oralcohol consumption while taking Avandia side effects avandia side effects. Know the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia,which include headache, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, fast heartbeat, sweating,tremor, and nausea side effects avandia side effects. Carry hard candy or glucose tablets with you to treat episodesof low blood sugar side effects avandia side effects.

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

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Avandia?
• Do not take Avandia without first talking to your doctor if you haveliver disease side effects avandia side effects.
• 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 side effects avandia side effects.
• You may not be able to take Avandia, or you may need a dosage adjustmentor special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listedabove side effects avandia side effects.
• Treatment with Avandia may cause resumption of fertility by allowingfor the return of ovulation (production of eggs) in certain women with insulinresistance who were not ovulating before treatment with Avandia side effects avandia side effects. Therefore,pregnancy may occur and birth control may be a consideration side effects avandia side effects.
• Avandia is in the FDA pregnancy category C side effects avandia side effects. This means that it is notknown whether Avandia will harm an unborn baby side effects avandia side effects. Generally, insulin is the drugof choice for controlling diabetes during pregnancy side effects avandia side effects. Do not take Avandia withoutfirst talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant duringtreatment side effects avandia side effects.
• It is not known whether Avandia passes into breast milk side effects avandia side effects. Do not takeAvandia without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby side effects avandia side effects.
• The safety and effectiveness of Avandia have not been established forchildren side effects avandia side effects.

How should I take Avandia?
• Take Avandia exactly as directed by your doctor side effects avandia side effects. If you do not understandthese instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them toyou side effects avandia side effects.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water side effects avandia side effects.
• Avandia can be taken with or without food or meals side effects avandia side effects.
• It is important to take Avandia regularly to get the most benefit side effects avandia side effects.
• Your doctor may want you to have blood or urine tests or other medicalevaluations during treatment with Avandia to monitor blood sugar levels, liverfunction, or other factors side effects avandia side effects.
• 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 Avandia side effects avandia side effects. Notify your doctor immediately ifyou develop nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, unusual fatigue, loss of appetite,yellow skin or eyes, or dark urine side effects avandia side effects. These symptoms may be early signs of liverproblems side effects avandia side effects.
• Although Avandia does not usually cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar),hypoglycemia may result from skipped meals, excessive exercise, or alcohol consumption side effects avandia side effects. Know the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia, which include headache, drowsiness,weakness, dizziness, fast heartbeat, sweating, tremor, and nausea side effects avandia side effects. Carry a pieceof hard candy or glucose tablets with you to treat episodes of low blood sugar side effects avandia side effects.
• Store Avandia at room temperature away from moisture and heat side effects avandia side effects.

What happens if I miss a dose?
• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember side effects avandia side effects. If you do not rememberuntil the next day, skip the dose you missed and take only your next regularlyscheduled dose side effects avandia side effects. Do not take a double dose side effects avandia side effects.

What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention side effects avandia side effects.
• Symptoms of a Avandia overdose are not known side effects avandia side effects.

What should I avoid while taking Avandia?
• Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely side effects avandia side effects. Changingany of these factors can affect your blood sugar levels side effects avandia side effects.
• Avoid alcohol side effects avandia side effects. It lowers blood sugar and may interfere with your diabetestreatment side effects avandia side effects.
• Tell your doctor and dentist that you are taking this medication beforeyou undergo any surgery side effects avandia side effects.
• Do not take any over-the-counter cough, cold, allergy, pain, or weight-lossmedications without first talking to your doctor side effects avandia side effects.

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

What other drugs will affect Avandia?
• No drugs have been reported to interact with Avandia although interactionsmay exist side effects avandia side effects. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescriptionor over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products side effects avandia side effects.

Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about Avandia written forhealth professionals that you may read side effects avandia side effects.

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