Avandia / Rosiglitazone is used, alone or in combination
with other medications, to treat type 2 (noninsulin-dependent) diabetes (formerly
'adult-onset') in people whose diabetes cannot be controlled by diet and
exercise alone. Avandia/Rosiglitazone is in a class of drugs called
thiazolidinediones. These drugs (Avandia) work by increasing your body's
sensitivity to insulin, a substance your body produces to help control blood
sugar levels. Rosiglitazone is not used to treat type 1 (insulin-dependent)
diabetes (formerly 'juvenile-onset').
This Avandia medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor
or Avandia pharmacist for more Avandia information.
Avandia/Rosiglitazone comes as a tablet to take by mouth.
Avandia is usually taken once or twice daily with or without meals. Follow the
Avandia directions on your Avandia prescription label carefully, and ask your
doctor or Avandia pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take
Avandia/rosiglitazone exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of Avandia
or take Avandia more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Avandia/Rosiglitazone controls type 2 diabetes but does not cure it. Continue to
take Avandia/rosiglitazone even if you feel well. Do not stop taking Avandia/rosiglitazone
without talking to your doctor.
Before taking Avandia/rosiglitazone,
tell your doctor and Avandia pharmacist if you are allergic to Avandia/rosiglitazone,
pioglitazone, troglitazone, or any other drugs.
tell your doctor and Avandia pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription
medications you are taking, especially insulin, other medications for type 2
diabetes, and vitamins or herbal products. Tell your doctor and pharmacist if
you have ever taken troglitazone (Rezulin).
tell your doctor if you have or have ever had heart failure, liver disease (including
cirrhosis and hepatitis), high cholesterol, edema, (fluid retention problems) or
a history of alcohol abuse.
tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are
breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking Avandia/rosiglitazone, call
your doctor immediately.
you should know that Avandia/rosiglitazone can restart ovulation in women taking
oral contraceptives or those with polycystic ovary disease. You are at risk for
pregnancy if adequate birth control is not used. You should discuss a reliable
form of birth control with your doctor. If you are taking birth control pills,
your doctor may choose to adjust your Avandia dose.
Avandia/Rosiglitazone should be taken with the same meal(s)
every day. Be sure to follow all exercise and dietary recommendations made by
your doctor or dietitian. Calorie reduction, weight loss, and exercise will help
control your diabetes and will also make Avandia/rosiglitazone work better. It
is important to eat a healthy diet.
Alcohol increases blood sugar; ask your doctor for information on how much
alcohol is safe to drink.
Avandia/Rosiglitazone usually does not cause hypoglycemia
(low blood sugar) when used alone, but it may cause low blood sugar when used
with other medications for diabetes. If you have any of the following Avandia
symptoms, eat or drink a food or beverage with sugar in it, such as hard candy
or fruit juice, and call your doctor immediately. Symptoms of low blood sugar
include:
shakiness
dizziness
rapid heartbeat
sweating
confusion
blurred vision
headache
numbness or tingling of the mouth
weakness
fatigue
pale color
sudden hunger
If you have any of the following symptoms of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar),
call your doctor immediately:
thirst
dry mouth
tiredness
flushing
dry skin
frequent urination
loss of appetite
trouble breathing
Although side effects from Avandia/rosiglitazone are not common, they can occur.
Tell your doctor if any of these Avandia symptoms are severe or do not go away:
sinus or respiratory infection
headache
back pain
diarrhea
tiredness
weight gain
If you experience any of the following Avandia symptoms, call your doctor
immediately:
seizures
loss of consciousness
irregular menstrual cycle (in women)
upset stomach
vomiting
stomach pain
excessive tiredness
dark urine
yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes
shortness of breath
rapid weight gain
swollen ankles or feet
Rare cases of liver injury and failure have occurred
during therapy with troglitazone, a drug similar to Avandia/rosiglitazone. The
potential risk of liver injury with Avandia/rosiglitazone is not known at this
time. It is important that you keep all appointments with your doctor and the
laboratory. Your doctor will order certain laboratory tests before and during
your treatment to check your response to Avandia/rosiglitazone. You will have
these tests before you begin to take Avandia/rosiglitazone, and then every 2
months for the first year of therapy. After the first year, these tests will be
done less frequently.
Call your doctor during periods of stress, such as fever, trauma, infection, or
prolonged illness. Your medications may need to be adjusted.
Avandia/Rosiglitazone may cause a slight decrease in red and white blood cells.
Before you have any laboratory test, tell the laboratory personnel and your
doctor that you take this medication.
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory.
Your doctor will order certain lab tests before and during treatment to check
your response to Avandia.
Do not let anyone else take your Avandia medication. Ask your Avandia pharmacist
any questions you have about refilling your Avandia prescription.
In case of Avandia overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.
Take the missed Avandia dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next Avandia dose, skip the missed Avandia dose and continue your regular Avandia dosing schedule. Do not take a double Avandia dose to make up for a missed one.
This Avandia medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more Avandia information.
Keep Avandia in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store Avandia at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any Avandia medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your Avandia medication.
Glucophage/Metformin is used to treat type 2 (noninsulin-dependent)
diabetes (formerly 'adult-onset'). Glucophage/Metformin helps your body to
regulate the amount of glucose (sugar) in your blood. Glucophage decreases the
amount of glucose you get from your diet and the amount made by your liver; it
also increases your body's sensitivity to insulin. Glucophage/Metformin is not
used to treat type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes (formerly 'juvenile-onset').
This Glucophage/Metformin medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask
your doctor or Glucophage/Metformin pharmacist for more Glucophage/Metformin
information.
Glucophage/Metformin comes in tablets to take by mouth.
Glucophage/Metformin usually is taken two or three times a day with meals.
Follow the Glucophage/Metformin directions on your Glucophage/Metformin
prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or Glucophage/Metformin
pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take Glucophage/metformin
exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of Glucophage/Metformin or take
Glucophage/Metformin more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Glucophage/Metformin extended-release tablets should be swallowed whole. Do not
break, chew, or crush.
Continue to take Glucophage/metformin even if you feel well. Do not stop taking
Glucophage/metformin without talking to your doctor.
