Pioglitazone

Pioglitazone is used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Pioglitazone works by increasing the sensitivity of your body's cells to insulin, it helps the body use Insulin more effectively, so more glucose is taken into cells for the same amount of insulin in the bloodstream. In type 2 diabetes the body produces insufficient amounts of insulin which causes the cells to build a resistance against the insulin(Insulin resistance). Pioglitazone directly helps in reducing this insulin resistance and helping in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Patients who take Pioglitazone may suffer from such side effects;

Blurred vision,
Respiratory tract infection,
Bone fracture,
Numbness,
Putting on weight,
Aches and pains,
Flu-like symptoms,
Chest infections,
Reduced sense of touch (numbness),
A greater risk of broken bones

Actos drug is a medication that is taken orally to help manage diabetes mellitus by controlling the blood sugar level. This is the drug of choice for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus also known as non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. The generic name for this medication is pioglitazone. This is manufactured by Cipla, Wockhardt, and SUN PHARMA. Another popular brand name for this drug is P-Glitz, Zipio, and Piolem.

The main component of Actos is pioglitazone. It is crystalline powder that is white in color. The molecular weight is 392.90. The drug is slightly soluble to ethanol, water insoluble, and ether insoluble. The inactive components were magnesium stearate, lactose monohydrate, and carboxymethylcellulose calcium NF.

Actos is being used as therapy to non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. It can be used in combination with other antidiabetic regimens to achieve maximum health benefits. However, it is also important that you comply do diet and exercise regimen to achieve optimum health while undergoing this therapy fully.

This drug can be taken on a full or an empty stomach. Ideally, it is taken once a day. For patients with known congestive heart failure, the recommended starting dose is 15 mg to 30 mg once a day. The dosage of the drug can be titrated incrementally to 15 mg up to 45 mg once a day depending on the result of HbA1c. If the patient has no response into the use of this drug, then it is best to use this drug in combination with other drugs.

The drug therapy can't be prescribed to patients with hypersensitivity reaction to any of the mentioned components of Actos. This is also discouraged to be used by patients with disease condition involving the heart.

Precautionary measures have to be taken especially for patients with congestive heart failure. Be watchful also of the development of edema during this drug therapy as the main component of this drug may cause fluid retention. It is important to be vigilant and watchful for any signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure or CHF. No formal study has shown harmful effects of the medicine on pregnant woman, but it is found out that those women using Actos during pregnancy has delayed development of the fetus and reduction in the fetal weight.

The commonly reported adverse effects or side effects of the medication are headache, muscle pain or myalgia, sinusitis, colds, weight gain, back pain, flu like symptoms such as sneezing and sore throat. Promptly seek medical attention if you experience any of the serious side effects of this drug such as swelling of the face especially the tongue and lips, or even involving the throat, presence of blood in the urine, swelling or edema of the body in general, blurry vision, bleeding, easy fatigability, painful urination, chest tightness, hematuria or presence of blood in the stool, jaundice or yellowing of the skin and eye. However, these are just the commonly reported side effects but if ever you are experiencing other symptoms not mentioned here it is best to consult your medical health provider right away.

Keep the drug away from light, heat, and moisture. Avoid flushing the medicine. Discard it right away if it has reached maximum shelf life. It is a must always to follow your health care providers advise to achieve the highest potential of the drug.