Pioglitazone
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DRUG STATUS
Approvals
US(FDA), UK(BNF)
Essential Medicine
NO
Teratogenicity
Unlisted
Pharmaceutical Class
Peroxisome Proliferator Receptor alpha Agonist, Peroxisome Proliferator Receptor gamma Agonist
Pioglitazone
Know More About This Medicine -
Click HereSummary
Pioglitazone is a medication used to manage blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. It is not used for type 1 diabetes or a severe diabetes complication called diabetic ketoacidosis.
Pioglitazone helps your body use its own insulin better. It works by making your liver and muscles more sensitive to insulin so they can take in more sugar from your blood. It activates special receptors that control how your body handles sugar and fat. It needs your body to already be making insulin for it to work.
Pioglitazone comes in tablets of 15mg, 30mg, and 45mg. It is usually taken once daily, with or without food. The right dose for adults isn't listed here, so you must ask your doctor.
Common side effects of Pioglitazone include stuffy nose, headache, and sore throat. More serious problems, though rare, include heart failure, swelling, and broken bones. It can also cause muscle aches, low blood sugar, and there's a slightly increased risk of bladder cancer.
Pioglitazone can worsen heart problems, cause swelling and weight gain from fluid buildup, and increase the risk of bladder cancer. Don't take it if you have severe heart problems or allergies to its ingredients. If you experience swelling, trouble breathing, rapid weight gain, unusual tiredness, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, fatigue, loss of appetite, dark urine, or blood in your urine, tell your doctor right away.
Indications and Purpose
What is Pioglitazone used for?
Pioglitazone tablets help manage blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. They work best when combined with a healthy diet and exercise. They are *not* used for type 1 diabetes or a serious diabetes complication called diabetic ketoacidosis. People with liver problems should use them carefully, under a doctor's close supervision.
How does Pioglitazone work?
Pioglitazone is a diabetes medicine that helps your body use its own insulin better. It works by making your liver and muscles more sensitive to insulin, so they can take in more sugar from your blood. This happens because it activates special receptors that control how your body handles sugar and fat. Importantly, it needs your body to already be making insulin for it to work; it won't lower blood sugar on its own.
Is Pioglitazone effective?
Pioglitazone is a medicine that helps your body use insulin better. Insulin helps sugar get into your cells for energy. Studies show that taking pioglitazone, either alone or with other diabetes medicines like metformin or insulin, lowers blood sugar levels.
How does one know if Pioglitazone is working?
Studies showed that the medicine pioglitazone helped people with type 2 diabetes lower their blood sugar levels. Compared to a sugar pill or other diabetes medicines, pioglitazone improved blood sugar readings (HbA1c and FPG) whether it was used alone or with other diabetes medications.
Directions for Use
What is the usual dose of Pioglitazone?
Pioglitazone comes in pills of 15mg, 30mg, and 45mg. Doctors don't usually prescribe it for kids. The right dose for adults isn't listed here, so you must ask your doctor.
How do I take Pioglitazone?
Take one Pioglitazone tablet every day. It doesn't matter if you take it with or without food. You don't need to change your diet because of this medicine.
For how long do I take Pioglitazone?
Pioglitazone is usually taken long-term as prescribed by a doctor.
How long does it take for Pioglitazone to start working?
The medicine pioglitazone works to lower blood sugar. It takes about a week for the right amount of medicine to be in the body. In a long study (26 weeks), people taking different doses of pioglitazone (15, 30, and 45 mg daily) had better blood sugar levels compared to people taking a dummy pill (placebo).
How should I store Pioglitazone?
Keep the medicine in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight. Make sure the container is closed tightly.
Warnings and Precautions
Who should avoid taking Pioglitazone?
Pioglitazone is a medicine with serious possible side effects. It can worsen heart problems, cause swelling and weight gain from fluid buildup, and increase the risk of bladder cancer. Don't take it if you have severe heart problems or allergies to its ingredients. If you experience swelling, trouble breathing, rapid weight gain, unusual tiredness, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, fatigue, loss of appetite, dark urine, or blood in your urine, tell your doctor right away.
Can I take Pioglitazone with other prescription drugs?
Pioglitazone is a medicine affected by other medications. Some medicines, like gemfibrozil and ketoconazole, make much more pioglitazone stay in the body. Others, like rifampin, make less pioglitazone stay in the body. Warfarin and digoxin are also slightly affected, with warfarin levels going down a little and digoxin levels going up a little. This means the doses of other medications may need to be adjusted when taken with pioglitazone to avoid problems.
Can I take Pioglitazone with vitamins or supplements?
Generally safe, but consult your doctor as supplements like St. John’s Wort may interfere.
Can Pioglitazone be taken safely while pregnant?
It’s not typically recommended during pregnancy. Consult your doctor.
Can Pioglitazone be taken safely while breastfeeding?
We don't know if the medicine pioglitazone passes into breast milk, how it might affect a baby, or if it changes how much milk a mother makes. Animal studies aren't always a good guide for what happens in humans. Doctors need to weigh the benefits of breastfeeding against the mother's need for the medicine and any possible risks to the baby.
Is Pioglitazone safe for the elderly?
In older adults, the body processes pioglitazone a little differently and slower than in younger adults. While it stays in their system longer, and at slightly higher levels, this difference isn't a big enough deal to cause problems. However, doctors don't know enough about how it works in children, so it's not given to them.
Is it safe to exercise while taking Pioglitazone?
Pioglitazone helps control blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, but it's best used with diet and exercise. It can cause swelling and weight gain, which might make it harder to exercise. Also, it can make heart problems worse, so you might not be able to exercise as much if you have heart issues.
Is it safe to drink alcohol while taking Pioglitazone?
Alcohol may increase the risk of low blood sugar. Use with caution.
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