Pioglitazone is a Thiazolidinedione antidiabetic medicine that decreases blood glucose by improving target cell response to insulin, without increasing pancreatic insulin secretion. Its action depends on the presence of insulin for activity. Pioglitazone is a strong and selective agonist for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma). Activation of these effects results in the production of a number of gene products that are involved in glucose and lipid metabolism. The interaction between Pioglitazone and these receptors result in the reduction in glucose levels, free fatty acids and decrease in tumor necrosis factor alpha, which is a chemical mediator of inflammation. This medicine has an advantage over others that it does not usually cause hypoglycemia when given alone (not with other hypoglycemic agents).
Uses
Diabetes Type 2
Dose
Adult dose: For Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus(as monotherapy or with insulin or insulin secretagogues); initial dose is 15-30mg orally a day with meal; you may increase the dose by 15mg with careful monitoring, maximum dose is 45mg a day.
Over Dose
Overdose of this medicine may cause hypoglycemia, consult your doctor in case of overdose.
Missed Dose
In case you missed any dose, take the next dose as soon as you remember, but don't double your next dose to compensate for the missed one.
How To Use
Take orally with water in the morning or evening, swallow as such, do not chew.
When Not Use
Pioglitazone cannot be used in patients with symptomatic heart failure. Initiation of pioglitazone in patients with established New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III or IV heart failure is not recommended. Do not use in case of hypersensitivity to pioglitazone or any component of the formulation. Avoid the use of pioglitazone in serious hepatic impairment, active bladder cancer, history of bladder cancer, uninvestigated macroscopic hematuria and pregnancy. Pioglitazonis is not recommended for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus planning to become pregnant.
Precautions
Thiazolidinediones like; pioglitazone, can cause congestive heart failure (CHF) in some patients. After initiating use of pioglitazone, and after increase in dose, observe patients carefully for signs and symptoms of heart failure (including excessive, rapid weight gain, dyspnea, and/or edema). If these signs and symptoms occur, manage the heart failure according to set standards of care. Discontinuation or reduction in dose of pioglitazone must be considered. Pioglitazone may cause ovulation (the release of an egg) in anovulatory (cause of infertility) premenopausal (woman's menstrual periods stop permanently) patients, and increases the risk of unintended pregnancy.
Side Effects
Increase in risks of bladder carcinoma May increase the risk of bone fractures Edema Upper respiratory tract infection Cardiac failure Headache Back pain Myalgia Sinusitis Pharyngitis Increased creatine phosphokinase in blood specimen Increased serum alanine aminotransferase Weight gain (probably due to fluid retention and weight gain)