Pioglitazone+Metformin Hydrochloride

When should one not use Pioglitazone+Metformin Hydrochloride

• If you are allergic to metformin, pioglitazone, or any other ingredient of Pioglitazone+Metformin Hydrochloride.
• If you have or had heart failure, kidney disease, or liver disease.
• If you have or had bladder cancer or visible blood in the urine.
• If you had a heart attack, shock, breathing problems, or any other disease which may reduce the amount of oxygen supplied to the body tissues.
• If you have very low blood sugar levels, diabetic ketoacidosis, or lactic acidosis.
• If you drink alcohol or alcohol-containing beverages excessively or regularly.
• If you have a severe infection or are dehydrated.
• If you are breastfeeding.
• If you are going to have a certain type of X-ray with an injectable dye.

Common side effects of this drug are:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Stomach pain
• Loss of appetite

Other General Warnings

• You are older than 75 years, have heart disease or experience symptoms like difficulty breathing, rapid increase in weight or swelling of the hands and feet.
• You have uncontrolled diabetes or a condition known as ketosis.
• You take medicines for high blood pressure, diuretics or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines.
• You are dehydrated or anaemic.
• You have a type of diabetic eye disease called macular oedema and you notice changes in your vision.
• You have liver disease or cysts in your ovary (polycystic ovary syndrome).
• You are scheduled to undergo surgery soon.
• You develop symptoms like vomiting, stomach pain, muscle cramps, breathing difficulty, tiredness after taking this medicine.
• You experience symptoms like weakness, dizziness, increased sweating, vision disturbances, difficulty concentrating after taking this medicine.

How Does It Work?

• Pioglitazone+Metformin Hydrochloride contains a combination of pioglitazone and metformin as its active substances.
• Pioglitazone allows the body to make better use of the insulin that it produces by making the fat, muscle and liver cells more sensitive to insulin.
• Metformin stops the production of glucose and also reduces its absorption in the body.
• As a result, the level of blood sugar is reduced which helps to control Type 2 diabetes.

Interactions with other medicines

• Some medicines can affect the way Pioglitazone+Metformin Hydrochloride works, or Pioglitazone+Metformin Hydrochloride itself can reduce the effectiveness of other medicines taken at the same time.
• Tell your doctor about all medicines, supplements, or herbals you are currently taking or might take to avoid any possible interaction.
• Pioglitazone+Metformin Hydrochloride should not be used if undergoing X-ray with a certain type of injectable dye called iodinated contrast agents.
• Care should be taken if you are taking medicines to treat pain and fever (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines like ibuprofen, paracetamol), high blood pressure (furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, ramipril, losartan), heartburn (cimetidine), high cholesterol (gemfibrozil), immune system suppression (glucocorticoids), asthma (salmeterol, bambuterol).

Overdose

Missed a Dose