ACTOS Reviews (PIOGLITAZONE HYDROCHLORIDE)

Average Rating: 1.7 (361 Ratings)

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 BLOOD GLUCOSE REGULATORS

 Type: Rx Drug

  

ACTOS  (PIOGLITAZONE HYDROCHLORIDE):  Pioglitazone is a diabetes drug (thiazolidinedione-type, also called "glitazones") used along with a proper diet and exercise program to control high blood sugar in patients with type 2 diabetes. It works by helping to restore your body's proper response to insulin, thereby lowering your blood sugar. Controlling high blood sugar helps prevent kidney damage, blindness, nerve problems, loss of limbs, and sexual function problems. Proper control of diabetes may also lessen your risk of a heart attack or stroke. Pioglitazone is used either alone or in combination with other diabetes medications (such as metformin or a sulfonylurea such as glyburide). Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of pioglitazone.   FDA Approval Date: 1999-07-15 (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)

  

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Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.)
5=HIGH (this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal.)

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RATING  REASONSIDE EFFECTS FOR ACTOSCOMMENTSSEXAGEDURATION/
DOSAGE
DATE ADDED
 
 1  diabetes II weight gain, lack of energy, nothing else. To reduce blood sugar levels, started on 500mg x2 metformin for one year, no results or complications. Added 15 mg. actos, no results, upped to 30. mg no results, but 10 pound weight gain in one year. Added 5 mg glipizide, levels normal in two days, still no side effects except weight gain. Gained 30 pounds. Now after one year with glipizide added, high levels again. Dumping actos and glipizide to add byetta. The weight gain, along with lack of energy, was my only complaints on all these drugs. Will see how metformin and byetta combination works. F 49 2 days
4/17/2007
 1  My dr. recommended it I take it.. I'm a type 2 diabetic taking Humulin 70/30, high BP had high triglycerides and high cholesterol with hdl/ldl out of balance. Stopped taking the cholesteral junk like lipitor. Started taking red yeast rice. After tw4 months my chol. was below 200, my triglyc was 67, my hdl/ldl were in excellent ratio. I refused to take Actos but my kidney dr. recommended I take it as it would reduce my A1c which were running 7-7.5. I started to take it and after the first two months I put on an extra roll of fat arounf my stomach. The kidney dr. said it's ok because it stops the storage of fat around my kidneys and heart. Oh yeah?? Well my blood pressure is now out of control again and my insulin resistance is hay wire. running 300+ after a meal. Even though it comes down ok. I work out fast walk on a treadmill and lift weights. I am very strong and can curl 150 pounds. Also am 70 years old. BUT! the extra weight now has taken it's toll on my aerobix excersize. At my next visit I'm telling the dr. to Dump it. M 70 75 days
4/12/2007
 1  REC OF DR FOR BLOOD SUGAR WEIGHT GAIN, SHORTNESS OF BREATH, LACK OF ENERGY TAKE RESPONSIBILTY FOR YOUR OWN HEALTH. DON'T LISTEN TO ALL THESE ARROGANT DOCTORS ARE THERE WHO REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT, AND SIMPLY WANT TO TAKE THE EASY WAY OUT FOR THEM AND WRITE PRESCRIPTIONS FOR PATIENTS. THESE ARE ALL DANGEROUS DRUGS. M 57 2 years
4/1/2007
 1  diabetes/type 2 30 lb. weightgain in 2.5 yrs,edema in feet,ankle,legs,severe calf pain,muscle cramps in legs/feet,waking up in night,hard to breathe,cough,short of breath on exertion,tired all the time, My physician insisted I continue this med,even though he was told of my symptoms,I told him of them and that I had checked with the manufacturer and they told me to quit it,it was an adverse reaction,and that I had seen forums on the internet related to my symptoms.He told me"Don't believe anything on the net" and "Dont' look up any more information on it"So when he was on vacation,I had to go for an appt,saw associate that is diabebtes Dr.,and told me to quit taking it immediately,that I now have large weight gain&edema, Duh....I've known that for last year!!!PLEASE if your Doc won't lsiten,find a new one who will,this is a drug that I was told causes substantial weight gain in most type 2's,why they'd want us to deal with that too,I don't know... F 47 2 years
3/30/2007
 1  Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) Extreme and fast weight gain of 40 pounds in two months. Because Glucophage was upsetting my stomach, my doctor prescribed Actos. I was dieting and practicing yoga religiously while taking Actos, but still gained over 40 pounds in a couple of months before realizing it was a side effect of the drug, which I stopped taking without the advice of my doctor. I have since gone back on the time release version of Glucophage, which does not upset my stomach. However my doctor threatens to put me back on Actos in conjunction with Glucophage if my resting insulin does not go down, but cannot promise I won't gain weight. I will not take Actos again because it's difficult enough to lose weight with PCOS/insulin resistance. F 28 2 months
3/26/2007
 3  Type II Diabetes Have been gaining weight despite diet. GAINED 60 LBS IN TWO YR M 60 4 years
3/25/2007
 1  long term type 2 diabetes Increased appetite and weight gain, craving for sweets, headaches, irritability, nightmares, increased urination at night and a cold sensation in my lower left leg. I am concerned about the cold sensation in my left leg as it has continued after stopping Actos use. Has anyone else experienced this??? I don't see any mention of a similar thing on this site. F 59 2 months
3/9/2007
Email
 1  Type 2 Diabetes I have been on Actos for almost two years and I feel awful. I am short of breath, tired and lethargic, gained huge amount of weight even though I had actually modified my diet which should have caused me to lose weight. Having mobility problems, I can hardly walk without the assistance of a walker and I am only 58 years old!! Have experienced vision problems and ridiculous amount of trips to the bathroom at night. My stomach graws at me constantly as if I were hungry even right after I eat and I am swallowing antacid tablets like candy in an attempt to stop it. Whats up with this stuff? Why does the FDA allow a medication that obviously causes more problems than it solves be allowed to remain on the market. Does that tells us something about the FDA? Ridiculous medication. I have three times the amount of problems I had before taking it. How nice of the drug company to create a med that exacerbates a diabetic's problem by causing weight gain. F 58
3/6/2007
 1  Type 2 diabetes Swelling in the legs , flaaaatulance big time.Gained 30 pounds and stomach feels bloated after every meal no mater what I eat.My a-1c is in the 7,s after a little over a year, was 9,s.My appetite has increased by double. I may stop taking this drug. I dont understand my pcp says that my lower a1c is good but I really need to lose the weight. I also take 1000mg of metformen daily along with 30mg actos.One thing is for sure my wife would like me better without the actogas!!! M 43 1.5 years
3/2/2007
 1  Type II Diabetes A1c 6.7 15 mg dose with metaformin legs swelled to twice their normal size, Dr gave me diuretics and swelling went down. A1c went to 6.3 BUT I felt like my body was shutting down after 4 1/2 months. I quit taking the Actos on my own at 5 1/2 months. I have been off it for 1 1/2 months and I am not myself, I have 1/2 the energy I had before and I have dizzy spells. I am looking for another Doctor. F 70 5 months
2/19/2007
 1  diabetes Hopitalized 4 days multiple blood clots, both lungs. Had none of the usual causes for clots. Had been on actos, edema began in left ankle, but only slightly. Am I adding 1 plus 1 and coming up with4? Pain in legs, feet, hips, could not be explained M 57 3 months
2/14/2007
 1  Type II diabetes Face swelling, Gained 12 pounds in 3 months, dizziness--like falling from a high fence and landing on hard on your feet, scary might collapse feeling and can't walk straight, numbness on both hands--fingertips and toes when standing for a long time. DID NOT EVEN LOWER MY GLUCOSE--ALL BLOOD TESTS CAME OUT SAME EVEN HIGHER.. INITIALLY, AFTER JUST 2 WEEKS I TOLD DOCTOR BUT HE INSISTS I TAKE CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL I SEE HIM AFTER 3 MONTHS. TODAY IS THE 3RD MONTH,HE SAID STILL CONTINUE BEC IT'S THE BEST DRUG---DEFINITELY I AM CHANGING MY DOCTOR, ALL MY TEST RESULTS BECOME HIGHER--FASTING GLUCOSE, ALBUMIN, ETC. DONT LISTEN TO DOCTOR WHEN YOU FEEL SOMETHING ABNORMAL. F 47 3 months
2/11/2007
 4  Type II (Rapid pulse, High BP & BS) Side effects: Increased appetite. My eyes ache. Actos is lowering my BS,BP, and pulse. Average readings after 1 wk of Actos: BS 118, BP 130/108, pulse between 75&80. Current Meds:Glyburide 5mg (9/06), and Toprol XL 100mg (3/06)for rapid pulse (115) & high BP (180/115). These were my average readings before Actos, and sometimes going much higher. The Toprol was first med in 3/06, and BS was fine in Mar. BS 454 in Sept without eating. My heart needs a vacation, it is working tooo hard. After becoming diabetic & before Actos, my diet was no/low sugar & very low carbs, and my readings decreased very little. Walking did help. I saw results with Actos almost immediately. My energy level has increased, and my weight has too! My heart rate has slowed but I do not want the weight gain. I know of two people who controlled their diabetes by weight loss and exercise. It took several yrs for each, but neither is on any medication now. DIET & EXERCISE is the answer. That is my goal, but I am concerned with Actos & weight gain. F 58 7 days
2/6/2007
Email
 3  Type II Diabetes Dry cough - almost constant, WEIGHT GAIN (46 pounds total over 3 years), edema in ankles/feet, lethargy. I also take glyburide, and I think that weight gain is a side effect from that, also. I wonder if the weight gain is just from eating after BG levels drop and trigger extreme hunger? Let's see - the way I understand it, being overweight puts stress on your kidneys, heart, and lungs; Type II can be caused by obesity; Actos helps lower BG, but one of the common side effects is weight gain, which puts more stress on the kidneys, heart and lungs......... My Doctor put me on 45 Mg and I never associated the side effects with the drug. I have also awakened at night feeling like I can't breathe and I wonder if that is also a side effect. M 55 3 years
2/5/2007
 2  Diebetes type II I just started 2/1/10 but the strangest thing happen to me. I don't know if it is because I'm reading the other comments or what, but this morning I tested myself and my levels were higher than normal. I took the pill 30mg and after eating I let 2 hours pass and tested myself again and it shot up there. I am doing everything the same as before and my test is usually 113 to 125 in the morning and not much more after I eat. I call my Dr. office and they said to keep taking the pill. I will give it the weekend but If it keeps rising I am going to stop. I might be that one in a million the pill would have the oppisite effect on. I am open for ideas on the matter I left my email. M 40 2 days
2/2/2007
Email
 1  Diabetes mellitus II Gained 30 pounds within about one month's time--even with healthier eating and better exercise routine. Excess dizzyness. Hypoglycemic-like attacks (almost fainting). Lethargy. Joint pain. Water retention in legs. Shortness of breath. Don't take this medicine. Question your physician if you don't feel right. Protect your health. Get a second opinion if your doctor claims "it's all in your head" (Luckily, my doctor did not). M 35 2 months
1/28/2007
Email
 1  Type II Diabetes I was only on it for two weeks when I woke up at night unable to breathe. After several such nights ans having to use an inhaler during the day I decided to stop taking it. I read that this drug can also cause liver damage. My doctor did not request liver enzyme testing to check this. F 51 2 weeks
1/10/2007
 2  diabetes II chest pain,pain down left arm,and shoulder,shortness of breath with mild activity,light flash in left eye, extremely fatigued. It does bring down the BG but side effects are tough. I'm going to ask for something else. Ths side effects are scary. F 45 4 days
1/6/2007
 3  Type II diabetes I have a consistent dry cough started about five months back and now in the last two months a sudden numbness in toes and feet, heaviness in legs, weight gain of 10+ pounds in the last two months and I'm always sleepy. Now in the past few days I'm getting a fluttering in my chest and a jumping of my heart, like a heart hiccup and I'm going to stop taking it immediately. Blood sugar stays lower with it, but it's scaring me. F 57 1 days
1/4/2007
 1  glucose tolerance research study after 1 year on 45 mg. dosage i devloped a blood disorder-anemia. on 06-2006 platelet count was 72.000 rbc 4.17 wbc 3.3 hgb 12.2 hct 36.7 rdw 22.0. been off it since 06-2006 most all deficets reached normal at the extreme lower end. platelets have not come up much latest # was 85.000 did experience extreme bleeding from nose today with visit to e.r. M 64 2 years
12/2/2006

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