side effects of avandia for diabetes

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 of avandia for diabetes. Notify your doctor immediately ifyou develop nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, unusual fatigue, loss of appetite,yellow skin or eyes, or dark urine side effects of avandia for diabetes. These symptoms may be early signs of liverproblems side effects of avandia for diabetes.
• 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 of avandia for diabetes. These may be early symptoms of heart problems side effects of avandia for diabetes.
• Avandia usually does not cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) side effects of avandia for diabetes. However,hypoglycemia may occur as a result of skipped meals, excessive exercise, oralcohol consumption while taking Avandia side effects of avandia for diabetes. Know the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia,which include headache, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, fast heartbeat, sweating,tremor, and nausea side effects of avandia for diabetes. Carry hard candy or glucose tablets with you to treat episodesof low blood sugar side effects of avandia for diabetes.

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

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 of avandia for diabetes.
• 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 of avandia for diabetes.
• 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 of avandia for diabetes.
• 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 of avandia for diabetes. Therefore,pregnancy may occur and birth control may be a consideration side effects of avandia for diabetes.
• Avandia is in the FDA pregnancy category C side effects of avandia for diabetes. This means that it is notknown whether Avandia will harm an unborn baby side effects of avandia for diabetes. Generally, insulin is the drugof choice for controlling diabetes during pregnancy side effects of avandia for diabetes. Do not take Avandia withoutfirst talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant duringtreatment side effects of avandia for diabetes.
• It is not known whether Avandia passes into breast milk side effects of avandia for diabetes. Do not takeAvandia without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby side effects of avandia for diabetes.
• The safety and effectiveness of Avandia have not been established forchildren side effects of avandia for diabetes.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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