Indications for Generic Actos
Actos or pioglitazone hydrochloride is indicated for the use of patients who have type 2 diabetes in order to control high blood sugar. Actos works through improving the response of the body to the natural available supply of insulin and not by increasing the production of insulin. Actos also lowers the production the production of unnecessary sugar in the liver.
Actos can be used by itself or with other oral diabetes medications like glyburide, glipizide and metformin hydrochloride. It can also be taken with insulin injections.
Important Information about Generic Actos
You should not use Actos if you have an allergy to pioglitazone hydrochloride.
Actos or pioglitazone hydrochloride should be used as an aid and not a substitute for eating a good diet and exercising. It is important that you would be following the specific instructions that you doctor gives you regarding your diet and exercise to get the full benefits of the medication.
Actos should not be used as an oral form of insulin.
Since Actos works through improving the response of the body to the available supply of insulin, it should not be used by patients who have type 1 diabetes. Actos is also not intended for the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis.
If you are taking other medications such as midazolam or ketoconazole, make sure to inform your doctor to be sure that they would not be interacting with Actos. You also need to tell your doctor of the other drugs you are taking as your dose may have to be altered.
Actos belongs to the FDA pregnancy category C, which means that the effects of the drug on a developing baby are not known. Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant, are planning to become pregnant or are nursing.
Actos could reduce the effectiveness of some birth control pills that contain ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone. Make sure to use other forms of birth control if you are using any of these.
To ensure that your blood sugar levels are normal, you need to get tested regularly. Contact your doctor if you get ill, have an infection or an injury or undergo surgery. Your dosage may have to be altered.
There are some rare cases when Actos can be toxic to the liver. Your liver function might be tested by your doctor first before taking Actos. If you start experiencing symptoms of liver damage such as jaundice, nausea and vomiting, inform your doctor right away.
Dosage and Administration of Generic Actos
Actos or pioglitazone hydrochloride should only be taken as it has been recommended by your physician. Do not take a larger dose or take the medication for a longer time than what has been advised for you.
Actos is typically taken once daily with or without meals.
If you miss a dose of Actos, you can just skip it and then just take the next regularly scheduled dose.
If you overdose on Actos, seek emergency assistance right away.
Possible Side Effects of Generic Actos
Some of the side effects which are commonly associated with the use of Actos or pioglitazone hydrochloride would include hypoglycemia, headache, muscle aches, sinus inflammation, swelling, sore throat, tooth disorder and respiratory tract infection.