Pioglitazone
DiabetesAlso known as Actos
Pioglitazone treats type 2 diabetes by helping your muscle and fat cells respond better to insulin, so sugar moves out of your blood more easily. It works slowly — full effect can take weeks — and rarely causes lows by itself. The things to watch are fluid buildup and swelling, because this medicine can strain a heart that's already weak.
How to take it
When
Once daily at the same time each day, exactly as prescribed.
Food
With or without food — whichever is easier to remember.
Avoid
It's generally not used if you have serious heart failure. Tell your doctor about any heart history before starting.
Watch for swelling
Weigh yourself now and then. Rapid weight gain or new swelling in your legs or ankles is worth a call to your doctor, not a wait-and-see.
Missed a dose?
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember that day. If you don't remember until the next day, just skip it. Never take two doses at once.
Common side effects
- Swelling in legs, ankles, or feet
- Weight gain
- Cold-like symptoms (stuffy nose, sore throat)
- Headache
- Muscle aches
Call a doctor if
- Rapid weight gain, swelling, or shortness of breath — this can mean heart failure worsening. Call your doctor now.
- Blood in your urine, pain when peeing, or a new urgent need to pee — call your doctor; this medicine has been linked to bladder cancer.
- Nausea, vomiting, belly pain, dark urine, or yellowing skin — possible liver trouble. Call your doctor right away.
- For women: a broken bone from a minor fall — this medicine raises fracture risk, so tell your doctor.