Most important fact about Actos

Actos can cause weight gain. You should stick to a calorie controlled diet and monitor your weight closely. Consult your doctor if your weight increases.

Always remember that Actos is an aid to, not a substitute for, good diet and exercise. Failure to follow a sound diet and exercise plan can lead to serious complications, such as dangerously high or low blood sugar levels. Remember, too, that Actos is not an oral form of insulin, and cannot be used in place of insulin.

Generally, insulin is the drug of choice for controlling diabetes during pregnancy. Do not take Actos without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether Actos passes into breast milk. Do not take Actos without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Because Actos works by improving the body's response to its own supply of insulin, it is not for type 1 diabetics, who are unable to produce any insulin at all. For the same reason, Actos cannot be used to treat the condition known as diabetic ketoacidosis (excessively high sugar levels due to the lack of insulin).

In rare instances, Actos causes swelling and fluid retention that can lead to congestive heart failure. If you already have this problem, you should avoid Actos. If you develop symptoms that signal the problem--such as shortness of breath, fatigue, or weight gain--you should check with your doctor immediately; the drug will probably have to be discontinued. The problem is more likely when Actos is taken in combination with insulin.

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome may resume ovulating while taking Actos. This can put you at risk of pregnancy. If pregnancy occurs or you wish to become pregnant, inform your doctor as treatment with Actos will need to be discontinued.

Actos, by itself, will not cause excessively low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). However, when you combine it with insulin injections or some other oral diabetes drugs, the chance of hypoglycemia increases. If you begin to feel symptoms of hypoglycemia--shaking, sweating, agitation, clammy skin, or blurred vision--take some fast-acting sugar, such as 4 to 6 ounces of fruit juice. Let your doctor know about the incident; you may need a lower dose of insulin or oral medication.

Actos is not recommended for children and adolescents under 18 years of age, as there is no information regarding its safety and efficacy in this age group.

To make sure that your blood sugar levels stay within the normal range, get regular tests of your blood sugar and glycosylated hemoglobin (a long-term measurement of blood sugar). Contact your doctor during periods of stress due to fever, infection, injury, surgery, and the like. Dosage of your diabetes medicines may need to be changed.

Actos should not to be used in breastfeeding, current or previous heart failure, decreased liver function, patients on insulin treatment, patients on kidney dialysis and pregnant women.

Actos should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.

If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using Actos and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

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