Pioglitazone hydrochloride is a medication that belongs to a class of medications known as “thiazolidinedionesâ€.
Metformin hydrochloride is a medication that belongs to a class of medicines known as “biguanidesâ€.
This combination of active ingredients is used for the treatment of adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (high blood glucose levels due to insulin resistance) who are already taking pioglitazone and metformin in separate tablets or have previously used either pioglitazone or metformin but did not have a controlled glycemic control.
It is used as an adjunct therapy to diet and exercise to help improve glycemic control.
The effectiveness and safety of this medicine have not been established in children yet.
Your doctor will tell you how much to take of this medication and may change doses depending on your response to the medication and other medicines that you are taking.
Take the tablet with food to avoid abdominal discomfort. Swallow the tablet whole with a full glass of water.
If you are under stress (e.g. infection, accident, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, drinking a lower amount of fluids than normal or due to a surgery or x-ray imaging with dye injection), make sure to talk to your doctor immediately.
Your doctor may change the dose of your diabetes medicines if needed.
Your doctor should evaluate your blood tests before starting this medicine and from time to time during therapy.
These blood tests may include tests to assess your kidneys, liver, and blood cells.
Make sure to follow a healthy diet and exercise program as recommended by your healthcare provider and get your blood sugar levels (hemoglobin A1C) checked on a regular basis while taking pioglitazone hydrochloride/ metformin hydrochloride.
Avoid bingeing or too much-drinking alcohol when taking this medicine to prevent lactic acidosis. Caution & Warnings: Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you develop allergic reactions such as shortness of breath, skin rash, swelling of the face or neck, decreased blood pressure, and dizziness.
This medicine may cause fluid retention which can worsen or lead to heart failure. The risk of fluid retention was shown to be higher in patients who are using insulin in combination with this medicine and suffer from congestive heart failure NYHA Class I and II (first classes of heart failure; NYHA Class I means that you have no symptoms and no limitation in ordinary physical activity like shortness of breath when climbing stairs or walking; Class II means that you experience mild symptoms like mild chest pain or shortness of breath and mild limitation during normal physical activity). Make sure to talk to your doctor before starting this medicine if you have heart problems (e.g. heart failure). Talk to your doctor if you develop signs of heart failure while taking this medicine like, swelling of the feet, ankles or abdomen, weight gain, fatigue upon exertion, difficulty breathing and irregular heart rhythms.
This medicine may cause edema (swelling) that is dose-related. If this happens, make sure to tell your doctor about it.
Your doctor may reduce the dose if needed.