Pioglitazone

Introduction To Pioglitazone

Pioglitazone is a medicine used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus in adults. It helps control blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. This helps to prevent serious complications of diabetes like kidney damage and blindness.

Pioglitazone may be used by itself or along with other medicines. It may be taken with or without food. Take it regularly at the same time each day to get the most benefit. Your doctor will decide what dose is best for you and this may change from time to time according to how it is working.

Keep taking this medicine, even if you feel well or your blood sugar levels are controlled. If you stop it without consulting your doctor, your blood sugar levels could rise and put you at risk of kidney damage, blindness, nerve problems, and loss of limbs. Remember that it is only part of a treatment program that should also include a healthy diet, regular exercise, and weight reduction as advised by your doctor. Your lifestyle plays a big part in controlling diabetes.

The most common side effects of taking this medicine include weight gain, blurred vision, and numbness. Please consult your doctor if these bother you or persist for a longer duration.

You should not take it if you have type 1 diabetes mellitus, if you have diabetic ketoacidosis (high levels of acid in your blood), or if you have severe kidney or liver disease. Before taking this medicine, tell your doctor if you have ever had heart disease, thyroid disease, or some hormonal conditions. It may not be suitable. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should also consult their doctor before taking it. Your blood sugar levels should be checked regularly and your doctor may also advise blood tests to monitor your blood cell counts and liver function.

Uses of Pioglitazone

  • Treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus

Benefits of Pioglitazone

Treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus
Pioglitazone improves the body’s response to the hormone insulin responsible for regulating blood glucose (sugar) levels in our body. The insulin helps to lower your blood glucose levels and prevents them from rising after taking meals. You should keep taking it for as long as it is prescribed.
Lowering blood glucose levels is an essential part of managing diabetes. If you can control the level you will reduce the risk of getting any of the serious complications of diabetes such as kidney damage, eye damage, nerve problems, and loss of limbs. Taking this medicine regularly along with proper diet and exercise will help you live a normal, healthy life.

Side effects of Pioglitazone

Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them

Common side effects of Pioglitex

  • Hypoglycemia (low blood glucose level)
  • Edema (swelling)
  • Upper respiratory tract infection
  • Bronchitis (inflammation of the airways)
  • Anemia (low number of red blood cells)

How to use Pioglitazone

Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Pioglitazone may be taken with or without food, but it is better to take it at a fixed time.

How Pioglitazone works

Pioglitazone is an anti-diabetic medication. It works by increasing the body's sensitivity to insulin, a natural substance that helps control blood sugar levels.

Quick tips

  • Pioglitazone helps to control blood sugar level and avoid long-term complications.

  • Take it only as per dose and duration suggested by your doctor.

  • You should continue to exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet, and take your other diabetes medicines along with Pioglitazone.

  • Full effects may be visible after several weeks of starting Pioglitazone. Keep taking it as prescribed by your doctor.

  • Monitor your blood sugar level regularly while taking this medicine.

  • Notify your doctor if you experience shortness of breath, heart problems, or any abnormal swelling.

  • Your doctor may monitor your liver function. Inform your doctor if you notice symptoms like abdominal pain, yellowing of eyes and loss of appetite.

Safety Advice

sdsPregnancyCONSULT YOUR DOCTOR

Can I take Pioglitazone if I’m pregnant?

Pioglitazone may be unsafe to use during pregnancy. Although there are limited studies in humans, animal studies have shown harmful effects on the developing baby. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and any potential risks before prescribing it to you. Please consult your doctor.

sdsBreastfeedingCAUTION

Can I take Pioglitazone if I’m breastfeeding?

Pioglitazone should be used with caution during breastfeeding. Breastfeeding should be held until the treatment of the mother is completed and the drug is eliminated from her body. Monitor the breastfed baby’s blood sugar during treatment with Pioglitazone

sdsAlcoholUNSAFE

Is drinking alcohol while taking Pioglitazone safe?

It is unsafe to consume alcohol with Pioglitazone.

sdsDrivingSAFE

Can I drive after taking Pioglitazone?

Pioglitazone does not usually affect your ability to drive.

sdsKidneySAFE IF PRESCRIBED

Can I take Pioglitazone if I have/had kidney diseases?

Pioglitazone is safe to use in patients with kidney disease. No dose adjustment of Pioglitazone is recommended.

sdsLiverCAUTION

Can I take Pioglitazone if I have/had liver diseases?

Pioglitazone should be used with caution in patients with liver disease. Dose adjustment of Pioglitazone may be needed. Please consult your doctor. Use of Pioglitazone is not recommended in patients with severe liver disease.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Can Pioglitazone cause weight gain?

Pioglitazone commonly causes weight gain which may be dose-related. The reason for this weight gain could be fat accumulation. However, in heart failure patients it could be due to water retention in the body. Therefore, it is important to monitor weight in heart failure cases.

Q. Can Pioglitazone cause heart failure?

Pioglitazone can cause fluid retention which may aggravate or speed up heart failure. The doctor usually starts with the lowest available dose and increases the dose gradually while treating patients who have at least one risk factor for heart failure (previous heart attack, coronary artery disease, elderly). Heart failure is more common when Pioglitazone is used with insulin.

Q. Can you take Pioglitazone and metformin together?

Yes, Pioglitazone can be used with metformin where sufficient blood sugar management was not possible with metformin alone. This combination of medicines can be used in adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and overweight patients with poor blood sugar control.

Q. What time of day should you take Pioglitazone?

It is usually prescribed once daily and can be taken at any time of the day but preferably at the same time each day. It can be taken with or without food. You should take Pioglitazone exactly as prescribed by your doctor.

Q. How long do I need to take Pioglitazone?

Can I stop the medicine for some time? Continue taking Pioglitazone as long as your doctor recommends taking it. Treatment for diabetes mellitus is long-term so you may have to take it lifelong. However, if you have to stop it then consult with your doctor who will suggest an alternative. Do not stop taking it without consulting your doctor as it may cause blood sugar levels to rise, which could be harmful to you.

Q. Does Pioglitazone affect liver?

Yes, Pioglitazone may cause an increase in liver enzymes, and treatment with Pioglitazone should be stopped if liver enzymes increase. Hence, levels of liver enzymes should be periodically checked while on treatment with this medicine. Pioglitazone should not be prescribed to patients with liver disease.

Q. What kind of medicine is Pioglitazone?

Is it like metformin? Pioglitazone belongs to the thiazolidinediones class of anti-diabetic medicines. It helps control blood sugar levels by improving how your body uses a hormone called insulin. This is done by helping your cells become more sensitive to the insulin your body makes.

Q. Can Pioglitazone cause bladder cancer?

Pioglitazone may increase the risk of bladder cancer, though it is very rare. Immediately consult your doctor if you experience blood in your urine, pain when urinating or a sudden need to urinate, during treatment with this medicine. Pioglitazone should not be used in patients with a prior history of bladder cancer or having bladder cancer.

References

Written By:

Dr Advikka Ridhy

Dr Advikka Ridhy

MBBS

RMO, Aster MIMS

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