Description:
Pioglin 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. Pioglin 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 Pioglin
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus
Side effects of Pioglin
Common
- Weight gain
- Blurred vision
- Respiratory tract infection
- Numbness
- Bone fracture
How to use Pioglin
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. Pioglin may be taken with or without food, but it is better to take it at a fixed time.
How Pioglin works
Pioglin is an anti-diabetic medication. It works by increasing the body’s sensitivity to insulin, a natural substance that helps control blood sugar levels.
What if you forget to take Pioglin?
If you miss a dose of Pioglin, skip it and continue with your normal schedule. Do not double the dose.
Quick Tips
- Pioglin 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 Pioglin.
- Full effects may be visible after several weeks of starting Pioglin. 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.
Brief Description
Indication
Type 2 DM
Administration
May be taken with or without food.
Adult Dose
Oral Type 2 diabetes mellitus Adult: 15 mg once daily. Elderly: No dosage adjustment needed. Hepatic impairment: Moderate to severe: Avoid.
Renal Dose
Renal impairment: No dosage adjustment needed.
Contraindication
Hypersensitivity. Type 1 diabetes mellitus, symptomatic or history of heart failure, diabetic ketoacidosis, childn <18 yr. Lactation.
Mode of Action
Pioglitazone is as a potent and highly selective agonist for the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-? (PPAR-?). Activation of these receptors promotes the production of gene products involved in lipid and glucose metabolism. It also improves insulin response to target cells w/o increasing the pancreatic secretion of insulin.
Precaution
I. Liver Enzyme must be monitored regularly II. History of heart failure and MI should be verified III. Incidence of bladder cancer should be verified IV. Not to be used for elderly patients V. Not to be used continuously more than one year VI. Use only by Specialist advice. Increased risk of hypoglycaemia when used with insulin or oral hypoglycaemics. Oedema, congestive heart failure, hepatic dysfunction, jaundice, anaemia. May cause ovulation in premenopausal, anovulatory women. Monitor liver function before and during treatment. Monitor glycaemic control. Pregnancy. Caution when oral contraceptives or hormonal replacement therapy is used in diabetics due to increased risk of arterial diseases. Stop treatment if ALT increases and remains >3 times above the upper limit of normal or if jaundice develops. Lactation: Not known if excreted in breast milk; discontinue drug or do not nurse
Side Effect
>10% Edema when used in combination with sulfonylurea or insulin (<27%),Hypoglycemia (<27%),Upper respiratory infection (13%) 1-10% Headache (9%),Heart failure (up to 8%),Sinusitis (6%),Fracture of bone (5%),Pharyngitis (5%),Myalgia (5%) Frequency Not Defined Aggravated diabetes,Diabetic macular edema,Hepatic failure (rare),Increased cholesterol,Decreased serum triglycerides,Hematocrit/hemoglobin,Bladder cancer,Decreased visual acuity,Dyspnea,Increased transaminases,Pharyngitis,Sinusitis,Weight gain
Interaction
Increased risk of oedema w/ insulin, metformin and sulfonylureas. Increased plasma levels w/ gemfibrozil and ketoconazole. Decreased plasma levels w/ rifampicin.
