DRUG NAME: Actos
Pronounced: ACK-toes
Generic name: Pioglitazone hydrochloride
HOW TO USE:
Take Actos tablets by mouth. Follow the directions on the Actos prescription label. Swallow the tablets with a drink of water with meals. Take your Actos doses at the same time each day; do not take more often than directed.
Contact your pediatrician or health care professional regarding the use of Actos in children. Special care may be needed.
SIDE EFFECTS:
Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible: anxiety or nervousness, confusion, difficulty concentrating; blurred vision; breathing problems such as rapid, deep breathing or difficulty breathing with activity; cold sweats, increased sweating; cool, pale skin; dark yellow or brown urine, or yellowing of the eyes or skin; diarrhea; drowsiness; muscle pain; nausea, vomiting; skin rash or hives; slow heartbeat; tremors or shakiness; unusual tiredness or weakness; swelling of the hands, legs, and/or feet.
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome): headache; weight gain.
PRECAUTIONS:
Visit your prescriber or health care professional for regular checks on your progress. Learn how to monitor blood or urine sugar and urine ketones regularly. Check with your prescriber or health care professional if your blood sugar is high, you may need a change of dose of actos. Do not skip meals. If you are exercising much more than usual you may need extra snacks to avoid side effects caused by low blood sugar. If you have mild symptoms of low blood sugar, eat or drink something containing sugar at once and contact your prescriber or health care professional. It is wise to check your blood sugar to confirm that it is low. It is important to recognize your own symptoms of low blood sugar so that you can treat them quickly. Make sure family members know that you can choke if you eat or drink when you have serious symptoms of low blood sugar, such as seizures or unconsciousness. They must get medical help at once.
Your health care professional will have to check blood tests regularly to assess the effect of Actos on your liver. Pioglitazone may rarely cause changes in some of these measurements.
If you are going to have surgery, tell your prescriber or health care professional that you are taking Actos.
Wear a medical identification bracelet or chain to say you have diabetes, and carry a card that lists all your medications.
DRUG INTERACTIONS:
Birth control pills or other hormonal methods of birth control; bosentan; itraconazole; ketoconazole; nifedipine.
Many medications may cause changes (increase or decrease) in blood sugar, these include: alcohol containing beverages; aspirin and aspirin-like drugs; beta-blockers, often used for high blood pressure or heart problems (examples include atenolol, metoprolol, propranolol); chromium; female hormones, such as estrogens or progestins, birth control pills; isoniazid; male hormones or anabolic steroids; medications to suppress appetite or for weight loss; medicines for allergies, asthma, cold, or cough; niacin; other medicines for diabetes; pentamidine; phenytoin; quinolone antibiotics (examples: ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, ofloxacin); some herbal dietary supplements; steroid medicines such as prednisone or cortisone; thyroid hormones; water pills (diuretics).
Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.
NOTES:
Prescriber needs to know if you have any of these conditions: heart problems; kidney or liver problems; swelling of the arms, legs, or feet; an unusual or allergic reaction to pioglitazone, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives; pregnant or trying to get pregnant; breast-feeding.
MISSED DOSE:
If you miss an Actos dose, take it with the next meal. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses of Actos.
STORAGE:
Keep Actos out of the reach of children in a container that small children cannot open. Store at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). Keep container tightly closed and protect from moisture and humidity. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.
