General medical information about Actos
 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 Actos. 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.
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 Actos. These may
be early symptoms of heart problems.
Actos
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 Actos. Know
the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia, which include headache,
drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, fast heartbeat, sweating,
tremor, and nausea. Carry hard candy or glucose tablets with
you to treat episodes of low blood sugar.
Actos
may decrease the effects of some birth control pills. Additional
measures may be necessary to prevent pregnancy while taking
Actos. Talk to your doctor about the use of birth control.
What is Actos
Actos
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.
Actos
is used, along with diet and exercise, in the treatment of
non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (type II diabetes).
Actos 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.
Actos
may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this
medication guide.
What you should find out before taking
Actos
Do not take Actos without first talking to your doctor
if you have liver disease.
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.
You may not be
able to take Actos, or you may need a dosage adjustment
or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of
the conditions listed above.
Treatment with Actos
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 Actos. Therefore, pregnancy may occur and birth control
may be a consideration.
Actos is in the FDA pregnancy
category C. This means that it is not known whether Actos
will be harmful to an unborn baby. Generally, insulin is
the drug of choice for controlling diabetes during pregnancy.
Do not take Actos without first talking to your doctor if
you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known whether Actos passes into breast
milk. Do not take Actos without first talking to your doctor
if you are breast-feeding a baby.
The safety and
effectiveness of Actos have not been established for children.
How should take Actos Take Actos exactly as directed by your doctor. If
you do not understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist,
nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
Take each
dose with a full glass of water.
Actos can be taken
with or without food or meals.
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 Actos. 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.
Although Actos 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 hard candy or glucose
tablets with you to treat episodes of low blood sugar.
Store Actos at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
If you miss a dose: 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.
What happens if you overdose: Seek emergency medical attention.
Symptoms
of a Actos overdose are not known.
Avoid while taking Actos Follow any diet, medication, and exercise routines
closely. Changing any of these factors can affect blood
sugar levels.
Avoid alcohol. It lowers blood sugar
and may interfere with diabetes treatment.
Tell your
doctor and dentist that you are taking this medication before
having surgery.
Do not take over-the-counter or prescription
cough, cold, allergy, pain, or weight-loss medications during
treatment with Actos without first talking to your doctor.
Possible side effects of Actos If you experience any of the following serious side
effects, stop taking Actos 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.
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 Actos. These may be
early symptoms of heart problems.
Although Actos
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 hard candy or glucose tablets with you to treat episodes
of low blood sugar.
Other less serious side effects
may also occur. Continue to take Actos and talk to your
doctor if you experience:
- headache;
- muscle
aches; or
- sore throat, nasal discharge, or cold
symptoms.
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.
What other drugs will affect Actos Actos may decrease the effects of some birth control
pills. Additional measures may be necessary to prevent pregnancy
while taking Actos. Talk to your doctor about the use of
birth control.
Before taking Actos, tell your doctor
if you are taking ketoconazole (Nizoral). Ketoconazole may
interact with Actos.
Do not take over-the-counter
or prescription cough, cold, allergy, pain, or weight-loss
medications during treatment with Actos without first talking
to your doctor.
Drugs
other than those listed here may also interact with Actos
or affect your condition. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist
before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines,
including herbal products. |
