What is Actos?

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What is Actos?
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Actos.com

What is ACTOS?

ACTOS is a once-a-day prescription medication for type 2 diabetes that, along with healthy eating and physical activity, helps your body control blood

ACTOS makes the cells in your body more sensitive to insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas that allows the cells in your body to use blood sugar for energy.
When the cells are more sensitive to insulin, the sugar thatÌs in your blood can pass more easily into the cells of your body where itÌs really needed. So instead of remaining in the blood, where sugar can build up to dangerous levels, it passes into the cells and your blood sugar levels go down.
ACTOS can be used by itself or in combination with certain other diabetes medications (sulfonylureas, metformin
or insulin) when your necessary efforts at healthy eating and physical activity do not control your blood sugar levels.
ACTOS is a member of the type of oral diabetes medications called thiazolidinediones (THIGH-ah-ZO-li-deen-DYE-owns; TZDs). These medications help reduce insulin resistance, which is one of the major problems in type 2 diabetes. Some of the benefits of therapy with ACTOS are:

With diet and exercise, lowers blood sugar by helping your body use its own insulin more effectively.
Convenient, once-a-day pill can be taken anytime.
Can be taken with or without food.
While not intended to treat lipid disorders, ACTOS may improve HDL (good) cholesterol and triglycerides.
Has not been associated with stomach upset when used alone.
Can be used alone or in combination with certain other diabetes medicines such as sulfonylureas, metformin, or insulin. Taken alone, ACTOS does not cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels). However, if you take ACTOS with insulin or sulfonylureas, you may be at increased risk for hypoglycemia. Talk to your health professional about the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia.
ACTOS is available in three different dose levels so you and your health professional have more treatment options to consider.
ACTOS is also available in convenient combination tablets:
ACTOplus met combines ACTOS and metformin in one tablet.
Duetact combines ACTOS and glimepiride in one tablet.
ACTOS can often begin working right away, although it may take several weeks to see the full effect.
Management of type 2 diabetes should also include nutritional counseling, weight reduction as needed, and exercise.

While ACTOS may provide some lipid benefits, ACTOS is not intended as a substitute for cholesterol medications.

The effect of these lipid changes on morbidity and mortality have not been determined.

Please see Important Safety Information, including warning about heart failure, below.

The prescription medications ACTOS, ACTOplus met, and duetact are not for everyone. These medications should not be started in certain patients with heart failure. ACTOS, ACTOplus met, and duetact can cause or worsen congestive heart failure. Talk to your doctor immediately if you experience rapid weight gain, fluid retention, or shortness of breath.

Do not take ACTOS, ACTOplus met, or duetact if you have active liver disease. Your doctor should perform a blood test to check for liver problems before you start ACTOS, ACTOplus met, or duetact and periodically thereafter. Talk to your doctor immediately if you experience nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, tiredness, loss of appetite, dark urine, or yellowing of the skin. If you are of childbearing age, talk to your doctor before taking any of these medicines as they could increase your chance of becoming pregnant. Some people taking these medicines may experience flu-like symptoms, mild-to-moderate swelling of legs and ankles, and anemia. Some people, particularly women, are at higher risk of having bone fractures while taking these medications. When taking ACTOS, ACTOplus met, or duetact with insulin or sulfonylureas, you may be at risk for low blood sugar. Patients with diabetes should have regular eye exams. If you experience vision problems, consult your doctor immediately. Very rarely, some patients have experienced visual changes while taking these medications. ACTOS, ACTOplus met, and duetact should not be used in patients with type 1 diabetes or in women who are nursing.

About ACTOS: ACTOS is used along with diet and exercise to lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. ACTOS is taken once daily either alone or in combination with insulin, sulfonylureas, or metformin.

About ACTOplus met: ACTOplus met is used along with diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes who are already treated with a combination of pioglitazone and metformin or whose diabetes is not adequately controlled with metformin or pioglitazone alone.

A small number of people who have taken metformin, a component of ACTOplus met, have developed a rare, serious condition called lactic acidosis. Lactic acidosis, a buildup of lactic acid in the blood, can be fatal in about half the cases. Because lactic acidosis occurs most frequently in people with kidney problems, ACTOplus met should not be used in people with kidney disease or in people 80 years of age and older whose kidneys do not work properly. ACTOplus met should not be taken by people with metabolic acidosis. ACTOplus met should not be taken by people who drink excessive amounts of alcohol. ACTOplus met should be discontinued in patients with severe infection or in patients undergoing X-ray studies using intravenous contrast dye. Talk to your health professional before discontinuing any medications.

About duetact: Duetact is used along with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes who are already taking ACTOS and a sulfonylurea together or taking a sulfonylurea alone and it is not controlling blood sugar.

Duetact may cause low blood sugar. Lightheadedness, dizziness, shakiness, or hunger may mean that your blood sugar is too low. Talk to your doctor if low blood sugar is a problem for you.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch, or call
1-800-FDA-1088.