ACTOS Reviews (PIOGLITAZONE HYDROCHLORIDE)Average Rating: 1.7 (361 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare ACTOS with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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Results are sorted by Date added. Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) |
More on ACTOS: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR ACTOS | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 1 | Type II diabetes | I was on Actos for 13 months (12/06) before I notice blood in the urine (1/08) and diagnosed with bladder cancer 6 months later, bladder cancer is a risk associated with Actos as stated in the patient information paper that is packaged with the medication. I continued to take the Actos after I had surgery in Nov. 08, and stopped taking it when I refilled my precription and decided to recheck the side effects and read this shocking statement "this medication increases the risk associated with bladder cancer." I stopped this medication after rechecking the side effects in January 2009. | Would like to hear from anyone who took Actos and also had bladder cancer. | M | 76 | 2 years | 7/16/2009 | 1 | Type 2 Sugar | Extreme Leg cramps at night time, stoped Actos, No Cramps.. | M | 6 months | 6/29/2009 | 3 | Type II | weight gain (16 pounds) mostly in the hips, butt, legs and upper arms. | Actos has changed the shape of my body so that now I look more woman like. I still have my belly fat but much more lower body fat too. It has helped my B.S. levels greatly though and my doctors said she wants me to continue with it dispite the weight gain. | M | 56 | 5 months | 6/28/2009 | 2 | Glucophage made me photosensitive | Lethargic, fatigue, constant hunger and muscle aches on my legs mainly (feel bloated) | Does not control my blood sugar so well | F | 33 | 3.5 weeks | 6/12/2009 | 1 | Diabetes II | It is difficult to list all the side effects I have been suffering as some things could be related to other causes/drugs. I have been taking Actos for about 2 years now and last year when I went to visit my daughter and flew up north I experienced leg swelling for the first time in my entire life. Never has ANYTHING swollen on me unless I had a direct injury form a blow or fall. And until I came home and the swelling did not go away, I thought it could just be from the flying, I then began to notice that my breathing was labored when I would exert myself. And I don't mean extreme exertion either, I mean just bringing a bag in from the store!! Then I began to notice other things. Like a lack of energy, extreme tiredness, a rattle in my throat/chest, and feeling like my stomach was going to explode if I bent to put on shoes. I even had to buy velcro sneaks because I couldn't tie reg ones anymore!!! I attributed my weight gain to quitting smoking 2years ago but I have to say it was way to | I was also taking Crestor and a generic Statin drug for cholestrol lowering and so some symptoms I attributed to them. I stopped them by the way as the side effects were life threatening. But the lethargy, weight gain,swelling, difficulty breathing etc. has me stumped. I think I am going to stop the Actos for a while and see if I see any changes in those effects and if so, I will go to the Doc and say, sorry let's try somthing else. If I have to go on full insulin, so be it. But continuing this med may not be the right thing for me. As for those of you that insist, all of us complaining about this med think we are all just lazy slobs that pig out on food all the time and that is our problem? Where did you get your medical degree? and how dare you assume you know me! I stick to my diet faithfully and had a great A1c in Feb of 5.9 so I know I am eating correctly. These meds can be dangerous for a greater majority than was used in the original testing, done by the drug company. I think these boards are a good forum. | F | 56 | 2 years | 6/11/2009 | 1 | TYPE II | AFTER 8 HOURS OF WORK I HAVE TO EAT LIKE A PIG ....THEN SLEEP 12HOURS....DRINK A GALLON OF WATER DURING THE NIGHT....SHORTNESS OF BREATH....GAINED 20LBS...SHOULD I EVEN BOTHER SAYING ANYTHING ELSE...JUST STOP TAKING THIS...ITS JUST NOT WORTH IT....JUST SAY NO TO ATOS | JUST SAY NO !!!! | M | 49 | 60 days | 6/10/2009 | 1 | yes for a few years | def weight gain headaches | i read a few comments and the one thing i would like to say GET OFF THE STUFF actos is a steroid. the doctors will not tell you. i have weighed 270lbs for so long a diet exercise. NOTHING. i just found out myself that its a steroid. i stopped taking it for a month now i take what you call a tissue cleanse it consists of HERBAL SUPPLEMENT NO.19A,VITRATOX NO.16 DETOXIFICANT AND INTESTINAL PURIFICATION VIA ALIMENTARY CANAL AND INTESTINAL CLEANSER NO19. AND I TAKE CHROMIUM PICOLINATE AND BILLBERRY FOR MY TYPE 2 DIABETES. I TELL U I NEVER FELT SO GOOD. AND DIG THIS JUST 1 MONTH AGO I WEIGHED 270 NOW I WEIGH 251LBS AND STILL LOSING. i encourage all of you to please leave this killer medication alone. im 34 years old and im trying to live long enough to see my daughter get married someday. i bought my herbs at this lovely place called the herb nook in phila pa his name is ron he is magnificant with his vast knowledge of herbs. and best of all he does not try to sell you something that you do not need. i love this man i feel like he saved my life if anyone have any question about anything please emial me at [email protected] thank you | F | 34 | 3 years | 6/6/2009 | 4 | type II diabetes | Some weight gain, seven pounds, but is due to not following the diet plan and lack of exercize. Don't have any pain or swelling. Had to reduce the Lantus due to low numbers and must eat on a regular basis. | A1c went from 9 to 7. Only taking 15mg with 20mg glipizide and 10 units of lantus. I have started walking 30 mins 3 to 4 times a week. I have no complaints. | F | 46 | 50 days | 6/5/2009 | 1 | Type 2 diabetes | fast weight gain - 10 lbs, also noticeable hair loss | Does not seem to have made any great contribution to my glucose control. | M | 53 | 6 weeks | 6/4/2009 | 4 | Type 2 | Weight gain, fluid retention, short term muscle pain, fatigue and so on.... | I learned that the problem wasn't really actos but rather me who refused to take control of my diet and exercise. After I did I maintained my levels well under control and cut my actos pills in half and then quarters. And guess what? No side effects. | F | 55 | 120 days | 5/29/2009 | 3 | A1C was at 8.4 on metformin (1500 mg) and glyburide (5 mg) when doctor added 15 mg Actos to the mix. Weight was 225. Within 6 months I gained 10 pounds and could not determine why. A1C went to 10.0, so doctor put me on 20 units of insulin nightly. | I did not have any of the muscle aches, but I was at a loss as to why the weight gain - I have been at 225 for years. For the last three months on Actos, I had also increased cardio activity considerably, so I was expecting to lose weight, not gain. Since adding the insulin, going to diabetes education, and monitoring carb portions, I have dropped 7 lbs. A few low (for me) glucose readings have me concerned, so I have unofficially laid off the Actos for a week. If the glucose levels stay where I want them, I'm going to ditch the Actos entirely. My biggest problem was for years I did not want to follow any rules. Now that I am following the dietary guidelines and testing my blood, I know I can get this to a much more manageable state. I can't blame the Actos entirely for the weight gain, but I do think it is the culprit. | M | 41 | 6 months | 5/28/2009 | 1 | Type 2 Diabetes | fibromyalgic type generalized muscle pain. Was 160 lbs when I started Actos. Gained 40 lbs. within 4 months. No edema, but experienced chronic bloating even after eating a small meal. Was seen at emergency room twice for horrific stomach pain. Went through two colonoscopies and two endoscopies, and a nuclear test to find out if my stomach was empting too slowly. I was always tired to the point of lethargy. On my worst days I stayed in bed flat on my back because that was the only way I could find any relief for the stomach bloating. Yes, it dropped my A1C from 8.9 to 6.1. But I quit Actos, restarted metformin and I got my life back. Yes, it took awhile to get readjusted to taking metformin...the daily diarrhea...but I would rather be dead than restart Actos. | M | 64 | 120 days | 5/26/2009 | 1 | Type 2 diabetes | Excessive weight gain, water retention, swelling of ankles and abdomen to the point of discomfort, joint pain and hair loss. | Actos did control my diabetes quite well however the joint pain, hair loss, swollen ankles and abdomen have resulted in stopping the medication. | F | 61 | 6 months | 5/25/2009 | 1 | diabetes | nasua, lightheadedness, basic wierd overall | pay attention to your doctors and your scripts.used two different times one year+- apart ... | M | 39 | 3 days | 5/21/2009 | 1 | Type 2 Diabetes | Weight gain (28 lbs in 8 weeks). Trouble breathing,panic attacks,skin blisters, hip pain, sinus infections, nose bleeds, anxiety. | I started taking Actos because my insurance company would no longer pay for my Avandia and told me I had to switch to Actos. Within days, I developed a sinus infection in conjunction with nose bleeds. Then within 2 weeks I started having trouble taking a deep breath. It was like my lungs could not expand. This began causing me severe anxiety, as I felt like I was slowly suffocating to death. As it got worse I began experiencing panic attacks every time I would try to go to bed, because when I was in a prone position I could not breathe. It got so bad that I was afraid to have anybody near my face for fear they would take my breath away from me. It caused my poor wife to think that I didn't find her attractive any more because I wouldn't kiss her. When I finally fessed up as to what was going on, she went on line and found this website and discovered that all of the things I was experiencing had been experienced by other people who had taken the Actos. I quit taking the Actos and with in 2 days my symptoms began to disappear and by 4 days they were gone. Do not take this drug. THIS IS POISON! | M | 55 | 8 weeks | 5/11/2009 | 5 | metabolic disorder syndrome | Slight water retention when I eat way too much salt. | I have/had metabolic syndrome and mild to moderate insulin resistance. I put on a lot of belly fat over the past 18-24 months going from a size 34 waist to a size 42 duing that time. I asked my doctor to put me on Actos 15. I have been taking 1 per day for about 5 weeks now. I went from 225 pounds down to 217. I lost 4.5 inches from my waist. My waist looks much smaller even though I didn't lose all that much weight. I went to the health dept. yesterday and they did a glucose fasting blood test (finger stick) and three hours after eating three cream sticks doughnuts my blood sugar level was 115. To be fair, I have really watched my diet going on a low carb diet except for those cream sticks yeasterday. I have also been exercising very hard at the gym 4-5 days a week. I tried both diet and exercise together prior to ACTOS but I made very little progress then. I also didn't seem to have much energy then and I always had a huge hunger when I got done exercising. That is not the case now. I'm very satisfied with ACTOs but want to get off ACTOS as soon as I can and stick with the diet and exercise. | M | 56 | 1 months | 4/18/2009 | 1 | Doctor prescribed | Extreme swelling in stomach, ankles, and legs. So puffy around my knees that I can no longer see where my knee stops and my leg starts. Extreme swelling due to increase in fat cells as per Actos. I can no longer continue using this medication. Legs look like huge tree trunks. | Dangerous swelling of ankles, feet, and legs; stomach is huge also. | F | 57 | 1 years | 3/21/2009 | 1 | Type II Diabetes | Weight gain, constant muscle and body aches, shortness of breath and severe stomach pain resulting in a couple of emergency room visits because doctors thought I was having a heart attack. | I have been off Actos for a couple of days now after doing much research online and realizing that the reason my weight loss efforts have been sabotaged was due to this medication. I have been following a very low carbohydrate program for 4 weeks and have not dropped an ounce. I have been taking glipizide and metformin for many years and my A1C was not as low as it needed to be so it was thought Actos would help. Unfortunately, that has not been the case. I also have a family history of heart disease and realizing that Actos can cause congestive heart failure, I could not figure out why a doctor would prescribe this medication to me. It makes no medical sense at all. The quality of my life has been extremely unsatisfactory and I only hope that what damage Actos has done to my body can be reversed. | F | 54 | 2 years | 3/5/2009 | 1 | Type II Diabetes | Weight gain, exhaustion, depression, joint pain, muscle aches. Tried Metformin, and had severe gastric upset. | It seemed to regulate the A1c, but the weight gain of 40lbs was not acceptable. I DO NOT shovel food into my mouth, in fact, avoid all sugars, and keep carbos at less than 20% of the daily caloric intake, exercise faithfully, and still I gained 40lbs!!!!. I've been off Actos for a month now, and feel better every day. I'd rather experience quality of life, and am working on a more holistic method of dealing with Diabetes, and it is working! | F | 60 | 3 years | 2/24/2009 | 5 | Type II Diabetes | None | There are no calories in a pill. The calories come from the fork in your hand. To the person who commented below, if you read the ProActive study, Actos decreased to risk of heart attack and stroke. Byetta is helpful in losing weight because it makes you feel full so you stop eating... What a novel idea, you quit stuffing you face and you actually lose weight? Wow. Just better hope you don't develop pancreatitis. The last patients who developed necrotizing and hemorrhagic pancreatitis from Byetta had a nearly 100% mortality rate. The whole name of the game is controlling your sugars. Wouldn't you rather gain 5lbs and not have a heart attack in 5-10 years. Or I guess the alternative is looking a little slimmer in your casket... The choice is yours. | M | 45 | 9 years | 2/23/2009 |