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What is the most important information I should know about
pioglitazone?
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Usually, liver function is monitored with blood tests at the start
of treatment, every two months for the first year of treatment, and
periodically thereafter during treatment with pioglitazone. Notify your
doctor immediately if you develop nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain,
unusual fatigue, loss of appetite, yellow skin or eyes, or dark urine.
These symptoms may be early signs of liver problems. |
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Notify your doctor immediately if you experience an unusually rapid
increase in weight or edema (water retention), shortness of breath, or
chest pain during treatment with pioglitazone. These may be early
symptoms of heart problems. |
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Pioglitazone usually does not cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
However, hypoglycemia may occur as a result of skipped meals, excessive
exercise, or alcohol consumption while taking pioglitazone. Know the
signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia, which include headache, drowsiness,
weakness, dizziness, fast heartbeat, sweating, tremor, and nausea. Carry
non-dietetic hard candy or glucose tablets with you to treat episodes of
low blood sugar. |
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Pioglitazone may decrease the effects of some birth control pills.
Additional measures may be necessary to prevent pregnancy while taking
pioglitazone. Talk to your doctor about the use of birth control. |
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Pioglitazone is an antihyperglycemic agent. It helps the body
respond better to insulin and it reduces the amount of sugar produced by
the liver. It can help control blood sugar levels. |
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Pioglitazone is used, along with diet and exercise, in the treatment
of type 2 diabetes. Pioglitazone may also be used with a sulfonylurea (e.g.,
Diabeta, Glucotrol, Micronase, others), metformin (Glucophage), or
insulin when diet and exercise plus any one of these medicines alone do
not result in adequate blood sugar control. |
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Pioglitazone may also be used for purposes other than those listed
in this medication guide. |
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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking
pioglitazone?
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Do not take pioglitazone without first talking to your doctor if you
have liver disease. |
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Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you |
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have heart failure or heart disease; |
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have edema (water retention or swelling); |
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have type 1 diabetes mellitus; |
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have a serious infection, illness, or injury; or |
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You may not be able to take pioglitazone, or you may need a dosage
adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the
conditions listed above. |
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Contact your doctor if you develop a fever or an infection, require
surgery, or if you experience a serious injury. Illness or injury may
cause a loss of blood sugar control and insulin (or an adjustment of a
current insulin dose) may be required for a period of time. |
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Treatment with pioglitazone may cause resumption of fertility by
allowing for the return of ovulation (production of eggs) in certain
women with insulin resistance who were not ovulating before treatment
with pioglitazone. Talk to your doctor about adequate forms of birth
control while taking pioglitazone if birth control is desired. |
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Pioglitazone is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it
is not known whether pioglitazone will be harmful to an unborn baby.
Generally, insulin is the drug of choice for controlling diabetes during
pregnancy. Do not take pioglitazone without first talking to your doctor
if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment. |
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It is not known whether pioglitazone passes into breast milk. Do not
take pioglitazone without first talking to your doctor if you are
breast-feeding a baby. |
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The safety and effectiveness of pioglitazone have not been
established for children. |
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How should I take pioglitazone?
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Take pioglitazone exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not
understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to
explain them to you. |
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Take each dose with a full glass of water. |
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Pioglitazone can be taken with or without food or meals. |
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It is important to take pioglitazone regularly to get the most
benefit. |
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Your doctor may want you to have blood or urine tests or other
medical evaluations during treatment with pioglitazone to monitor blood
sugar levels, liver function, or other factors. |
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• |
Usually, liver function is monitored with blood tests at the start
of treatment, every two months for the first year of treatment, and
periodically thereafter during treatment with pioglitazone. Notify your
doctor immediately if you develop nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain,
unusual fatigue, loss of appetite, yellow skin or eyes, or dark urine.
These symptoms may be early signs of liver problems. |
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• |
Although pioglitazone does not usually cause hypoglycemia (low blood
sugar), hypoglycemia may result from skipped meals, excessive exercise,
or alcohol consumption. Know the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia,
which include headache, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, fast heartbeat,
sweating, tremor, and nausea. Carry a piece of non-dietetic hard candy
or glucose tablets with you to treat episodes of low blood sugar. |
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Store pioglitazone at room temperature away from moisture and heat. |
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What happens if I miss a dose?
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Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If you do not remember
until the next day, skip the missed dose and take only the next
regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose. |
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What happens if I overdose?
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Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected. |
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Symptoms of a pioglitazone overdose are not known. |
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What should I avoid while taking pioglitazone?
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Follow any diet, medication, and exercise routines closely. Changing
any of these factors can affect blood sugar levels. |
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Avoid alcohol. It lowers blood sugar and may interfere with diabetes
treatment. |
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Tell your doctor and dentist that you are taking this medication
before having surgery. |
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Do not take over-the-counter or prescription cough, cold, allergy,
pain, or weight-loss medications during treatment with pioglitazone
without first talking to your doctor. |
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What are the possible side effects of pioglitazone?
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If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop
taking pioglitazone and seek emergency medical attention or notify your
doctor immediately: |
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an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat;
swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives); |
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nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, or loss of appetite; |
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yellowing of the skin or eyes; or |
|
• |
Notify your doctor immediately if you experience an unusually rapid
increase in weight or edema (swelling, water retention), shortness of
breath, or chest pain during treatment with pioglitazone. These may be
early symptoms of heart problems. |
|
• |
Although pioglitazone does not usually cause hypoglycemia (low blood
sugar), hypoglycemia may result from skipped meals, excessive exercise,
or alcohol consumption. Know the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia,
which include headache, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, fast heartbeat,
sweating, tremor, and nausea. Carry a piece of non-dietetic hard candy
or glucose tablets with you to treat episodes of low blood sugar. |
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Other less serious side effects may also occur. Continue to take
pioglitazone and talk to your doctor if you experience: |
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sore throat, nasal discharge, or cold symptoms. |
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Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to
your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is
especially bothersome. |
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What other drugs will affect pioglitazone?
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Pioglitazone may decrease the effects of some birth control pills.
Additional measures may be necessary to prevent pregnancy while taking
pioglitazone. Talk to your doctor about the use of birth control. |
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Do not take over-the-counter or prescription cough, cold, allergy,
pain, or weight-loss medications during treatment with pioglitazone
without first talking to your doctor. |
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Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with
pioglitazone or affect your condition. Talk to your doctor and
pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines,
including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products. |
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Where can I get more information?
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Your pharmacist has additional information about pioglitazone
written for health professionals that you may read. |
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Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of
children, never share your medicines with others, and use this
medication only for the indication prescribed. |
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Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided
by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete,
but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained
herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for
use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and
therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States
are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug
information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend
therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed
to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients
and/ or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and
not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of
healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or
drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug
or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given
patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of
healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The
information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses,
directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions,
or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking,
check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. |
Copyright 1996-2004 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 5.01. Revision date: 4/
16/ 04. |
