ACTOS

Who is Actos for ?

Actos is used, along with proper diet and exercise, to treat Type 2 Diabetes (high blood sugar). Actos may be used alone or in combination with other diabetic medications such as glyburide, glipizide, metformin, or insulin. Actos lowers blood sugar by helping the body use insulin more efficiently, along with decreasing the amount of glucose (sugar) released by the liver.

When should I be careful taking Actos ?

Before taking Actos,

• Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to pioglitzone or any other drugs.
• Tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking.
• Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver problems or heart failure.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding.
• You should know that Actos can cause ovulation to resume in premenopausal anovulatory (non-ovulating) women. You may want to take extra contraceptive precautions.
• The safety and efficacy for the use of Actos in children have not been established.

Actos Side Effects

Although side effects from Actos are not common, they can occur. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• Sinus congestion or infection
• Headache
• Muscle pain
• Tooth problems (pain)
• Symptoms of low blood sugar (sweating, nervousness, weakness, shakiness)

If you experience any of the following symptoms, contact your doctor immediately:

• Yellowing of skin or eyes
• Nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, fatigue, loss of appetite, dark urine
• Fainting
• Rash