what are the side effects of avandia

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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