Pioglitazone+metformin
About Pioglitazone+metformin
Metformin+pioglitazone belongs to the group of medicines called anti-diabetic drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes mellitus used to be known as 'non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM)' or 'maturity-onset diabetes'. Type 2 diabetes develops if the body does not produce enough insulin or when the insulin that your body makes does not work as well as it should. It can also develop if the body produces too much glucagon. Insulin is a substance that helps to lower the level of sugar in your blood, especially after meals.
Metformin+pioglitazone contains Pioglitazone (thiazolidinediones) & Metformin (biguanides). Pioglitazone decreases blood sugar and reverses the effects of Type II diabetes by activating switches (PPAR) inside cells to take up free glucose from the blood and decrease its levels in the blood. Metformin, on the other hand, decreases blood sugar by decreasing its formation and increasing its consumption by cells, thereby decreasing high blood sugar levels. Metformin+pioglitazone is used in adults to treat type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus when treatment with metformin alone is not sufficient.
Metformin+pioglitazone should be taken with food to avoid an upset stomach. Metformin+pioglitazone should be taken at the same time of the day each time for best results. For better advice, your doctor will decide what dose should be taken, and it can change timely depending upon your condition. Some people may have stomach aches, feeling sick (Nausea), vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, localized swelling (oedema), weight gain, headache, respiratory infection, numbness, taste disturbance, etc. Most of these side effects of Metformin+pioglitazone do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor.
Metformin+pioglitazone should not be stopped even if you feel better, without consulting your doctor as your sugar level keeps changing. If you stop taking Metformin+pioglitazone abruptly, it may increase your sugar levels, which could further increase the risk of eyesight loss (retinopathy), kidney (nephropathy) and nerve damage (neuropathy). Metformin+pioglitazone should not be taken if you have type 1 diabetes mellitus or severe kidney or liver disease. Please inform your doctor if you have any heart disease, are or are planning to get pregnant or are breastfeeding.
Uses of Pioglitazone+metformin
Medicinal Benefits
Metformin+pioglitazone lowers blood sugar in type II diabetic patients (Non-insulin dependent ) & prevents diseases of the heart, kidneys, eyes & blood vessels in feet, which happens due to persistently high levels of blood sugar in diabetic patients. Metformin+pioglitazone plays a vital role in controlling blood sugar levels and prevents serious complications of diabetes like eyesight loss (retinopathy), kidney (nephropathy), nerve damage (neuropathy), diabetic foot ulcer and delayed wound healing. Metformin+pioglitazone lowers blood sugar due to the activation of cell switches (PPAR) to take up free glucose from blood & use it for energy production & decrease the production of glucose inside the liver.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Pioglitazone+metformin
- Diarrhoea
- Loss of appetite
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
Drug Warnings
Metformin+pioglitazone should not be used in patients with type 1 diabetes or with diabetic ketoacidosis. Some diabetic patients, while taking Metformin+pioglitazone, might develop a rare but serious condition called lactic acidosis. In this condition, too much lactic acid accumulates in the blood, which can damage the workings of the liver and kidneys required for the elimination of excess lactic acid from the blood. Before you start taking Metformin+pioglitazone, tell your doctor if you’ve ever had pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), kidney disease, and low vitamin B12 levels. Metformin+pioglitazone, when used with insulin, may extremely lower the blood sugar level, leading to hypoglycemia condition, which can be fatal. In this case, your doctor may adjust the dose by lowering the dose of insulin or Metformin+pioglitazone. Prolonged intake of Metformin+pioglitazone may lower your thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH); hence, an annual check-up of TSH is recommended. In rare cases, you may also develop a serious skin reaction known as bullous pemphigoid that requires immediate medical attention. Tell your doctor if you are going to have a diagnostic test with an injection of dye or X-ray contrast agent. The use of Metformin+pioglitazone should be stopped for a short time before having an X-ray procedure.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Metformin+pioglitazone interacts with heart medications like (propranolol), pain killers (aspirin, ibuprofen, and celecoxib), high blood pressure-lowering pills (nifedipine, captopril, enalapril, lisinopril), thyroid hormones (thyroxine), antacid (cimetidine), or certain medicines affecting the nervous system.
Drug-Food Interaction: Intake of excessive alcoholic beverages may increase the chance of a life-threatening condition known as Lactic Acidosis. So, avoid intake of alcoholic beverages with Metformin+pioglitazone.
Drug-Disease Interaction: People affected with heart, liver, and kidney diseases (like congestive heart failure and myocardial infarction), vitamin B12 deficiency, and alcoholism should avoid intake of Metformin+pioglitazone.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeNot recommended with alcohol as it may result in a harmful decrease or increase in levels of blood sugar depending on how much alcohol a patient has consumed.
Pregnancy
cautionNot recommended in pregnancy. Metformin+pioglitazone treatment should be stopped and replaced with any other alternative drug from other blood sugar-lowering agents on the recommendation of a doctor. You must tell your doctor if you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby.
Breast Feeding
cautionNot recommended in breastfeeding mothers. Do not use Metformin+pioglitazone if you are breastfeeding or are planning to breastfeed, as a doctor's consultation is required.
Driving
safe if prescribedIt is safe to use while driving or operating heavy machinery. This medicine will not affect your ability to drive or use machines, but care should be taken if you experience abnormal vision or anything that affects your ability to drive.
Liver
cautionMetformin+pioglitazone should be used with caution in patients with liver disease as Metformin+pioglitazone has been found to cause harmful interactions in them. Doctors' recommendation is required before taking this drug.
Kidney
cautionMetformin+pioglitazone should be taken with caution in patients with kidney disease. In rare cases, serious interactions have been found in kidney patients, called lactic acidosis; thus, a doctor's consultation is required before taking this drug.
Children
unsafeNot recommended in children below 12 years of age. Use in children and adolescents under 18 years is not recommended. Consult a doctor for better alternative blood sugar-lowering agents in diabetic children.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Fill your half plate with starchy veggies, a quarter with proteins, and a quarter with whole grains.
- Eat at regular intervals. Do not take a long gap between a meal or snack.
- Monitor your blood sugar level regularly, especially when there are lots of fluctuations.
- Invest in at least 150 min of moderate-intensity physical activity or one hour and 15 minutes of high-intensity exercise every week.
- Lose weight gradually to achieve a healthy body mass index (18.5 to 24.9).
- Replace refined carbohydrates-containing foods with whole grain foods and increase your intake of fruits, veggies, and other fibre-enriched foods.
- Reduce your intake of saturated fat (or hidden fats) in foods like chips, crisps, pastries, biscuits, and samosas. Choose omega-3 fatty acid-containing oils for daily cooking. For frying, you can use palm oil, mustard oil, groundnut oil, rice bran oil, and safflower oil.
- Do not take stress as it may elevate your blood sugar level. You can adopt stress management techniques like mindfulness to control stress-related blood sugar changes.
- Opt for low-fat dairy products (low-fat yoghurt, fat-free milk, and cheese, etc.).
- Keep your blood pressure as normal (140/90) as possible. As it reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases in diabetes patients.
Special Advise
Contact your doctor immediately if you have nausea, vomiting, kussmaul breathing (laboured and deep), and generalised weakness, which are symptoms of Lactic acidosis, a very rare but serious metabolic complication.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Type 2 diabetes is a condition where the body is unable to make sufficient insulin, or the insulin that it makes doesn't work properly or is utilized by our body. This can cause high blood sugar levels (hyperglycaemia). Symptoms of type 2 diabetes include increased thirst, frequent urination, slow, increased hunger, fatigue, and blurred vision. In some cases, there may be weight gain, while in rare cases, weight loss may be observed. The complication of type 2 diabetes also includes neuropathy (nerve problems), nephropathy (kidney problems), retinopathy (damaged retina of eyes or blindness), loss of limbs, sexual dysfunction, and an increase in the chance of heart attack or stroke.
FAQs
Metformin+pioglitazone is used to treat Type II diabetes (non-insulin-dependent diabetes). It lowers blood sugar by activating cell switches (PPAR) to take up free glucose from the blood and use it for energy production. It also decreases the production of glucose in the liver.
Metformin+pioglitazone can cause fluid retention, which causes heart failure. The doctor usually recommends starting from a lower dose and increasing the dose slowly while treating patients who are at risk of heart failure. Heart failure is reported mainly in patients taking insulin & Metformin+pioglitazone simultaneously.
There have been rare cases of liver damage in patients taking Metformin+pioglitazone. The doctor usually screens the patient continuously during the course of treatment with Metformin+pioglitazone. A patient is advised to visit a doctor strictly as per the doctor's advice.
Metformin+pioglitazone is contradictory when used in patients with high blood pressure. Doctors consultation is required before taking this drug in a patient with high blood pressure.
Metformin+pioglitazone is safe to take before driving a vehicle or operating machinery as long as blood sugar levels are stable. However, a patient is advised to take proper precautions and make sure that Metformin+pioglitazone is not taken with another blood sugar-lowering agent.
Not recommended to be taken with contraceptives. Metformin+pioglitazone decreases the activity of oral contraceptives like Ethinyl estradiol by almost 30% and leads to failure of contraception.
Type 2 diabetes is a condition where the body is unable to make sufficient insulin, or the insulin that it makes doesn't work correctly or is utilized by our body. This can cause high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia). Symptoms of type 2 diabetes include increased thirst, frequent urination, slow, increased hunger, fatigue, and blurred vision.
Metformin+pioglitazone should be swallowed as a whole with a glass of water. Avoid crushing, chewing, or breaking it.
Don't stop taking Metformin+pioglitazone without consulting your doctor, even if your blood sugar levels return to normal. Stopping the medication suddenly can cause your blood sugar levels to fluctuate, leading to potential complications. Your doctor prescribed Metformin+pioglitazone to help manage your type 2 diabetes, and they need to assess your condition before making any changes to your treatment plan. Consult your doctor before stopping or adjusting your medication, as they will provide personalized guidance to ensure your blood sugar levels remain stable and under control.
Avoid or limit alcohol consumption while taking Metformin+pioglitazone, as it can interact with the medication and increase the risk of low or high blood sugar levels, as well as a rare but serious condition called lactic acidosis. Additionally, alcohol can worsen certain health conditions, such as nerve damage or liver disease. If you do choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation and closely monitor your blood sugar levels.
Common side effects of Metformin+pioglitazone may include stomach aches, feeling sick (Nausea), vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, localized swelling (oedema), weight gain, headache, respiratory infection, numbness, taste disturbance, etc. Most of these side effects of Metformin+pioglitazone do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor.
Limited information is available. To make an informed decision, consult your healthcare professional, who can assess your individual situation and provide personalized guidance on using Metformin+pioglitazone while breastfeeding.
Metformin+pioglitazone should be taken with caution in patients with kidney disease. In rare cases, serious interactions have been found in kidney patients, called lactic acidosis; thus, a doctor's consultation is required before taking Metformin+pioglitazone.
Metformin+pioglitazone is recommended not to be used in children. Metformin+pioglitazone is a medication typically prescribed for adults over 18 years with type 2 diabetes.
Metformin+pioglitazone is not recommended during pregnancy as there is not much information about its safety during pregnancy. If you are pregnant or thinking of getting pregnant, talk to your doctor, as they will need to review your treatment. They can suggest a different medicine that is safer for you to take during pregnancy.
Store in a cool and dry place away from sunlight. Keep Metformin+pioglitazone out of reach and out of sight to children.
No, Metformin+pioglitazone is not indicated for treating type 1 diabetes. Metformin+pioglitazone is a medication specifically designed to treat type 2 diabetes, and it's not suitable for managing type 1 diabetes.
Metformin+pioglitazone can interact with various other drugs, including those used to manage diabetes, blood pressure, heart conditions, and thyroid disorders, as well as steroids and blood thinners. Always let your healthcare professional know about all the medications you are currently taking to reduce risks. They will help you navigate potential interactions and ensure safe treatment. Consulting your healthcare professional before combining Metformin+pioglitazone with any other medications is key.
Metformin+pioglitazone contains Pioglitazone (thiazolidinediones) & Metformin (biguanides).
