Actos

Actos (pioglitazone) is a highly-efficient diabetes medicine intended for patients who need to control their blood sugar levels because of being diagnosed with type II diabetes (diabetes mellitus). The following health conditions you have or used to have are supposed to be reported to your health care provider before you start taking Actos: congestive heart failure, liver disease, history of stroke, history of heart attack, and heart disease. Take this medicine once a day with some food or without. Regular use of Actos is the best way to make sure you will get all the benefits of the treatment. However, Actos is only a part of a comprehensive program of treatment that also includes diet, exercise, and weight control. Your doctor may also recommend other medicines to treat your diabetes. Your blood and liver function may need to be tested regularly while you are using this medication. Make sure you show up for regular appointments. If you are having a planned surgery, your surgeon may advise stopping the treatment temporarily and resuming it after the operation. Avoid taking medicines that have been reported to interact with Actos (gemfibrozil, rifampin, midazolam, nifedipine, and furosemide), drugs that can cause high blood sugar levels (diuretics, colds or allergies medicines, birth control pills, diet pills, steroids, isoniazid, seizure medicines, medicines to treat asthma, thyroid medicines, and phenothiazines), or drugs that can cause low blood sugar levels (aspirin, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, sulfa drugs, and probenecid). You will need to discuss this with your health care provider. Do not get too worried if you get any of the following mild side effects, as they go away on their own in most cases: runny nose, signs of cold, tooth problems, sneezing, muscle pain, and headache. More serious side effects are also possible, but these are quite rare. Nevertheless you need to know such side effects are possible and be able to recognize them. Report to your doctor any of the following serious side effects if you suddenly develop them: urinating more than usual, pale skin, loss of appetite, blurred vision, rapid weight gain, chest pain, clay-colored stools, easy bruising or bleeding, and increased thirst or hunger. Never give this medication to other people to whom it was not prescribed, as these people may have a number of contraindications you are unaware of.