Actos (Pioglitazone Hydrochloride)

What is Generic Actos?

It is an oral hypoglycemic medication of the thiazolidinedione class. The activity of the drug is related to the presence of insulin: by lowering the threshold of sensitivity of the liver and tissues to the hormone, it increases the costs of glucose and reduces its production in the liver.
The drug is a strong and selective gamma-receptor agonist, the action of which is activated by the peroxisome proliferator (also called PPAR-gamma). PPAR-gamma receptors contribute to the modulation of the transcription of many genes that are sensitive to insulin, are involved in maintaining the level of glucose, as well as the metabolism of lipids. It lowers insulin resistance in the peripheral tissues located in the liver, thereby increasing the expenditure of insulin-dependent glucose and lowering the production of glucose in the liver. In addition to the normalization of glycemia, the preparations also improve the lipid spectrum: the concentration of HDL is increasing, the level of triglycerol decreases. Since the action of drugs is based on the stimulation of gene transcription, the optimal result from treatment can be expected in 2-3 months.

In what kind of disease treatment Actos is helpful?

Actos is used for drug therapy of type 2 diabetes, as an additional tool for diet therapy and physical exercises. It can also be used for monotherapy (combination therapy) together with derivatives of sulfonylurea, as well as insulin, metformin. The drug has many excellent reviews from patients who took it for drug therapy.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take Generic Actos?

Do not use the drug if you are allergic to main substance, or you have severe and uncontrolled heart failure, or bladder cancer. Do not use this medication in diabetic ketoacidosis. Before you buy Actos online, consult a doctor if you have:
• heart disease;
• fluid retention;
• bladder cancer in the family;
• cases of strokes or heart attacks from relatives;
• liver disease.
Without treatment, diabetes itself can damage your heart and other organs. Consult a specialist about the benefits and risks of treating diabetes. Also, drug Actos may increase the risk of developing cancer in the bladder. A woman can increase the likelihood of fracture of the bones of the arm, in the forearm or legs, taking this medication. Consult your doctor if you are concerned. According to the manufacturer, it is not known whether the drug will affect the fetus during pregnancy. But one should not breast-feed during the course of treatment. It is also not recommended to take medicine for people under the age of eighteen without medical advice.

How should I take Actos?

The drug lowers insulin resistance in the peripheral tissues, in the liver, which increases the use of insulin-dependent glucose and lowers glucose output from the liver. Meals do not affect the effectiveness.

Dosage information

If it is decided to use monotherapy for patients who are not helped by the necessary diet therapy and physical activity, the drug is prescribed for reception at a rate of 15 or 30 mg once during one day. The largest acceptable dose of Actos is 45 mg per day. You can take the drug in combination therapy. In this case, the dosage volume is maintained, as in monotherapy, but the maximum dose for this use will be 30 mg per day.

What may interact with Generic Actos?

Drugs of this group are perfectly combined with other antidiabetic drugs - metformin, insulin, derivatives of the sulfonylurea. Combination with metformin is possible due to a different mechanism of action: biguanides suppress glucogenesis, and thiazolidinediones increase the utilization of glucose.
Studies on the interaction with oral contraceptives, calcium channel blockers, cyclosporine and reductase inhibitors of HMBA-CoA did not reveal changes in their characteristics.
The parallel use of medication and gemfibrozil provokes an increase in the AUC of glitazone, which characterizes the time-concentration dependence, by a factor of 3. This situation increases the chances of occurrence of undesirable dose-dependent consequences, therefore it is necessary to adjust the dosage of Actos when combined with an inhibitor.

What should I watch for while taking Actos?

In addition to the drug, it is also important to follow the diet and exercise recommended physical exercises. And you need to do them not only in the initial stage of treatment, but also throughout the therapy. With caution, you need to use the drug for patients with edema. The active substance of the drug can provoke fluid retention in the body, which can develop or make the heart failure state worse.
Do not take this drug in large, smaller doses or longer than recommended by specialists.

What side effects may I notice from Generic Actos?

During the therapy patients may notice the following Actos side effects:
• increased body weight;
• anemia;
• decreased visual acuity;
• reduction of hemoglobin;
• edema;
• hepatitis;
• hypoglycemia;
• increased ALT activity;
• reduction of hematocrit;
• infections of the respiratory system, sinusitis and pharyngitis;
• allergies, anaphylaxis, hypersensitivity, angioedema;
• decreased sleep quality;
• tumors of different nature: polyps, cysts, cancer;
• fractures and pains in the limbs;
• frustration of the rhythm of defecation;
• erectile disfunction;
• hypoglycemia, uncontrolled appetite;
• hypesesia, impaired coordination;
• vertigo;
In studies, the safety of a dose of 120 mg was checked, which volunteers took 4 days, and then another 7 days at 180 mg. Symptoms of an overdose were not detected.

Where can I keep Actos?

This is a drug that is dangerous for children, that's why you should keep it in a safe place. Do not use it after expiration date. If the drug is stored incorrectly, its quality may deteriorate. Store the package at room temperature, with low humidity. You can also buy Actos without prescription in international pharmacies, for example in Turkey online pharmacy.