Buy Actos (Pioglitazone Hydrochloride)

Actos® (Pioglitazone HCL) patient handout

• Actos (Pioglitazone HCL) is used in the management of type 2 daibetes mellitus; Actos may also be used with a sulfonylurea, metformin or insulin when the combination of diet, exercise and metformin does not achive glycemic control.

• Actos improves sensitivity to insulin by acting as an agonist at receptor sites involved in insulin responsiveness and subsequent glucose production and utilization.Requires insulin for activity.
• Therapeutic effects of Actos : decreased insulin resistance, resulting in glycemic control without hypoglycemia.

• Absorption Absorption describes the process that follows drug administration and its subsequent delivery to systemic circulation. : well absorbed after following oral administration.
• Distribution Drug's distribution in body tissues and fluids. : unknown.
• Protein binding : more than 99% bound to plasma proteins; active metabolites are also highly (over 99%) bound.
• Metabolism and excretion Important in determining dosage regimens and intervals for persons with hepatic or impaired renal function. : extensively metabolized by the liver; at least two metabolites have pharmacologic activity.Minimal renal excretion of unchanged drug.
• Half life The half-life of a drug is the amount of time it takes the drug level to decrease by 50% and roughly correlates with the duration of action. : 3 to 7 hours for Actos (Pioglitazone) and 16 to 24 hour for Actos plus metabolites.

• Actos (Pioglitazone HCL) is strongly contraindicated in : hypersensitivity, diabetic ketoacidosis; clinical evidence of active liver disease or increased alanine transaminase (ALT), pregnancy or lactation, children under 18 years or type 1 diabetes.
• Use Actos cautiously in : edema, hepatic impairment, women with childbearing potential (may restore ovulation and risk of pregnancy).

• Actos side effects and adverse reactions can be : headache, edema, heart failure, sinsuitis, pharyngitis, anemia, hypoglycemia with combination therapy, aggravated diabetes, weight gain, myalgia, upper respiratory tract infection, tooth disorder.

• Take Actos (Pioglitazone HCL) exactly as directed.If dose for 1 day is missed don't double dose the next day.
• Actos controls hyperglycemia but does not cure diabetes.Actos therapy is long-term.
• If hypoglycemia occurs, take a glass of orange juice or 2-3 tablespoons of sugar, honey or corn syrup dissolved in water and notify health care professional.
• You must follow prescribed diet, medication and exercise regimen to prevent hypoglycemic or hyperglycemic episodes.
• You should know about proper testing of serum glucose and ketones.These tests should be closely monitored during periods of stress or illness, and health care professional should be notified if significant changes occur.
• Notify health care professional immediately if signs of hepatic dysfunction (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fatigue, anorexia, dark urine, jaundice) occur.
• Insulin is the preferred method of controlling blood glucose during pregnancy.Women : higher doses of oral contraceptives or a form of contraception other than oral contraceptives may be required and notify health care expert promptly if pregnancy is planned or suspected.
• Inform health care professional of Actos regimen before treatment or surgery.
• Carry with you a form of sugar (sugar candy or sugar packets) and identification describing disease process and medication regimen at all times.
• Blood tests of liver function will be performed before Actos therapy stars, every 2 months for the first year and periodically therafter.
• Avoid OTC medications or herbal preparations unless approved by prescriber.
• Diabetes is lifelong illness; Actos doesn't cure it, only controls symptoms.