Prescription required. Can not be split. Product of Turkey. Shipped from Mauritius.
Prescription required. May be split. Product of UK/EU. Shipped from United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Prescription required. May be split. Product of Australia. Shipped from Australia.
Prescription required. Product of New Zealand. Shipped from Mauritius.
Prescription required. May be split. Product of Australia. Shipped from Australia.
This item is backorded. May require additional wait time.
Prescription required. May be split. Product of New Zealand. Shipped from New Zealand.
Actos is a prescription medication used to manage type 2 diabetes. It belongs to a class of drugs known as thiazolidinediones, which help improve the body's sensitivity to insulin. This improved sensitivity allows cells to bring in and use glucose from the bloodstream more efficiently, which can, lower blood sugar levels. Actos is usually taken once daily and comes in tablet form, available in 15 mg, 30 mg, and 45 mg doses.
Actos is prescribed to help control blood sugar levels in individuals with type 2 diabetes. It is often used in combination with other diabetes medications when diet and exercise alone are not sufficient to manage blood glucose levels. Actos helps the body respond better to insulin, reducing the amount of glucose in the bloodstream.
To comply with Canadian International Pharmacy Association regulations you are permitted to order a 3-month supply or the closest package size available based on your personal prescription. read more
Common Side Effects
Actos may cause mild side effects in some people, which can include:
Upper respiratory infections (like the common cold)
Headache
Sinus infections
Weight gain
Flatulence (passing gas)
Muscle pain
Edema: Swelling, especially in the legs or feet, can occur. If you notice unusual swelling or rapid weight gain, discuss this with your doctor.
Some side effects may be temporary and may resolve on their own. However, if they persist or worsen, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Serious Side Effects
Although rare, Actos can cause serious side effects, such as:
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), especially when combined with other diabetes medications. Symptoms include dizziness, sweating, headache, and nervousness.
Liver failure. Symptoms include yellowing of the skin or eyes, belly pain, and nausea/vomiting.
Bone fractures. Female patients may be more affected by an increased risk of bone fracture.
Congestive heart failure (CHF). Actos can worsen CHF symptoms like swelling, shortness of breath, and rapid heart rate. A boxed warning for CHF is issued by the FDA, reminding patients and prescribers that Actos is not recommended for individuals managing symptomatic heart failure.
Macular edema: Fluid buildup in the eye that can affect vision. Contact your doctor if you experience blurry vision.
Bladder cancer. Long-term use of Actos has been linked to a possible increased risk of bladder cancer, with symptoms including painful urination, back or abdominal pain, and blood in urine.
Allergic reactions: Symptoms can include rash, itching, or swelling of the face or throat. A severe reaction may cause difficulty breathing and requires immediate medical attention.
If you experience any of these serious side effects, contact your doctor immediately. For emergency symptoms, call 911.
The dosage of Actos is individualized based on factors like the severity of your condition and any other medical conditions you may have. Actos typically starts at a lower dose, which your doctor may increase to find the right level for you.
Initial dosage: Typically, 15 mg or 30 mg once daily.
Maximum dosage: 45 mg daily.
Your doctor will adjust the dosage as needed, especially if you have conditions like congestive heart failure (CHF) with minimal impact on daily functioning or are taking other medications for type 2 diabetes. Actos is contraindicated in individuals managing NYHA Class III or IV congestive heart failure.
Individuals who are taking insulin while starting Actos may require a lower dose of insulin to minimize the risk of hypoglycemia (dangerously low blood sugar levels). Talk with your healthcare providers to ensure you have updated instructions for all of your medications and double-check for changes.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it’s nearly time for your next dose. Never take two doses at once. Set a reminder to help you remember your medication schedule.
Actos is generally prescribed as a long-term treatment for managing type 2 diabetes. Continue to follow your doctor’s recommendations and attend regular check-ups to monitor the drug's effectiveness and any potential side effects.
Pioglitazone (pye oh gli' ta zone) Actos® Actoplus Met® (as a combination product containing Metformin, Pioglitazone) Actoplus Met® XR (as a combination product containing Metformin, Pioglitazone) Duetact® (as a combination product containing Glimepiride, Pioglitazone) Oseni® (as a combination product containing Alogliptin, Pioglitazone) Pioglitazone and other similar medications for diabetes may cause or worsen heart failure (condition in which the heart is unable to pump enough blood to the other parts of the body). Before you start to take pioglitazone, tell your doctor if you have or have ever had heart failure, especially if your heart failure is so severe that you must limit your activity and are only comfortable when you are at rest or you must remain in a chair or bed. Also tell your doctor if you were born with a heart defect, and if you have or have ever had swelling of the arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs; heart disease; high cholesterol or fats in the blood; high blood pressure; coronary artery disease (narrowing of the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart); a heart attack; an irregular heartbeat; or sleep apnea. Your doctor may tell you not to take pioglitazone or may monitor you carefully during your treatment. If you develop heart failure, you may experience certain symptoms. Tell your doctor immediately if you have any of the following symptoms, especially when you first start taking pioglitazone or after your dose is increased: large weight gain in a short period of time; shortness of breath; swelling of the arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs; swelling or pain in the stomach; waking up short of breath during the night; needing to sleep with extra pillows under your head in order to breathe easier while lying down; frequent dry cough or wheezing; difficulty thinking clearly or confusion; fast or racing heart beat; not able to walk or exercise as well; or increased tiredness. Your doctor or pharmacist will give you the manufacturer's patient information sheet (Medication Guide) when you begin treatment with pioglitazone and each time you refill your prescription. Read the information carefully and ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. You can also visit the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website (http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm085729.htm) or the manufacturer's website to obtain the Medication Guide. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking pioglitazone.
Pioglitazone is used with a diet and exercise program and sometimes with other medications, to treat type 2 diabetes (condition in which the body does not use insulin normally and therefore cannot control the amount of sugar in the blood). Pioglitazone is in a class of medications called thiazolidinediones. It works by increasing the body's sensitivity to insulin, a natural substance that helps control blood sugar levels. Pioglitazone is not used to treat type 1 diabetes (condition in which the body does not produce insulin and, therefore, cannot control the amount of sugar in the blood) or diabetic ketoacidosis (a serious condition that may develop if high blood sugar is not treated). Over time, people who have diabetes and high blood sugar can develop serious or life-threatening complications, including heart disease, stroke, kidney problems, nerve damage, and eye problems.Taking medication(s), making lifestyle changes (e.g., diet, exercise, quitting smoking), and regularly checking your blood sugar may help to manage your diabetes and improve your health. This therapy may also decrease your chances of having a heart attack, stroke, or other diabetes-related complications such as kidney failure, nerve damage (numb, cold legs or feet; decreased sexual ability in men and women), eye problems, including changes or loss of vision, or gum disease. Your doctor and other healthcare providers will talk to you about the best way to manage your diabetes.
Pioglitazone comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken once daily with or without meals. Take pioglitazone at around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take pioglitazone exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor may start you on a low dose of pioglitazone and gradually increase your dose. Pioglitazone controls type 2 diabetes but does not cure it. It may take 2 weeks for your blood sugar to decrease and 2 to 3 months for you to feel the full effect of pioglitazone. Continue to take pioglitazone even if you feel well. Do not stop taking pioglitazone without talking to your doctor.
Before taking pioglitazone, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to pioglitazone, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in pioglitazone tablets. Ask your pharmacist or check the Medication Guide for a list of the ingredients. tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: atorvastatin (Lipitor, in Caduet), gemfibrozil (Lopid), hormonal contraceptives (birth control pills, patches, rings, implants, and injections), insulin or other medications to treat diabetes; ketoconazole (Nizoral), midazolam, nifedipine (Adalat, Afeditab, Procardia), ranitidine (Zantac), rifampin (Rifadin, Rifater, in Rifamate), and theophylline (Elixophyllin, Theo-24, Theochron). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had any of the conditions mentioned in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, or if you have or have ever had bladder cancer, diabetic eye disease, or kidney or liver disease. tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking pioglitazone, call your doctor. Do not breast-feed while you are taking pioglitazone. if you have not yet experienced menopause (change of life; end of monthly periods) you should know that pioglitazone may increase the chance that you will become pregnant even if you do not have regular monthly periods or if you have a condition that prevents you from ovulating (releasing an egg from the ovaries). Talk to your doctor about methods of birth control that will work for you. if you will be having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking pioglitazone. ask your doctor what to do if you get sick, develop an infection or fever, experience unusual stress, or are injured. These conditions can affect your blood sugar and the amount of pioglitazone you may need.
Be sure to follow all exercise and dietary recommendations made by your doctor or dietitian. It is important to eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and lose weight if necessary. This will help to control your diabetes and help pioglitazone work more effectively. Alcohol may cause a decrease in blood sugar. Ask your doctor about the safe use of alcoholic beverages while you are taking pioglitazone.
If you remember that same day, take the missed dose as soon as your remember it. However, if you do not remember until the next day, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take more than one dose in one day and do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
This medication may cause changes in your blood sugar. You should know the symptoms of low and high blood sugar and what to do if you have these symptoms. Pioglitazone may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away: headache muscle pain pain in the arms or legs sore throat gas Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms or those mentioned in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately: changes in vision vision loss frequent, painful, or difficult urination cloudy, discolored, or bloody urine back or stomach pain You should know that pioglitazone may cause liver problems. Stop taking pioglitazone and call your doctor right away if you have nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, pain in the upper right part of the stomach, flu-like symptoms, dark urine, yellowing of the skin or eyes, unusual bleeding or bruising, or lack of energy. In clinical studies, more people who took pioglitazone for more than one year developed bladder cancer than people who did not take pioglitazone Talk to your doctor about the risk of taking this medication. In clinical studies, more women who took pioglitazone developed fractures (broken bones), especially of the hands, upper arms, or feet, than women who did not take pioglitazone. Men who took pioglitazone did not have a greater risk of developing fractures than men who did not take the medication. If you are a woman, talk to your doctor about the risk of taking this medication. Pioglitazone may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while you are taking this medication. If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online (http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat, light, and moisture (not in the bathroom). Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage/recycling department to learn about take-back programs in your community. See the FDA's Safe Disposal of Medicines website (http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p) for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program. It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location – one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. http://www.upandaway.org
Keep all appointments with your doctor, your eye doctor, and the laboratory. Your doctor will probably order regular eye examinations and certain laboratory tests before and during your treatment to check your body's response to pioglitazone. Your blood sugar and glycosolated hemoglobin should be checked regularly to determine your response to pioglitazone. Your doctor will also tell you how to check your response to pioglitazone by measuring your blood or urine sugar levels at home. Follow these directions carefully. You should always wear a diabetic identification bracelet to be sure you get proper treatment in an emergency. Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription. It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.
The content on this page is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional medical advice. Patients should not use the information presented on this page for diagnosing a health-related issue or disease. Before taking any medication or supplements, patients should always consult a physician or qualified healthcare professional for medical advice or information about whether a drug is safe, appropriate or effective.
