How Actos (pioglitazone) works
Actos (pioglitazone) is a thiazolidinedione that improves your body’s ability to use insulin to lower your blood sugar.
What is Actos (pioglitazone) used for?
Type 2 diabetes
Actos (pioglitazone) dosage forms
tablet icon
Tablet 15mg-30mg
Typical dosing for Actos (pioglitazone)
The typical dose for Actos (pioglitazone) is 1 tablet (either 15 mg or 30 mg) taken by mouth daily.
Can you take metformin and Actos (pioglitazone) together?
Metformin and Actos (pioglitazone) can be used together along with diet and exercise to control blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.
How quickly does Actos (pioglitazone) work?
It may take several weeks to lower your blood sugar and 2 to 3 months for you to see the full effect of Actos (pioglitazone).
What is the best time of day to take Actos (pioglitazone)?
It’s usually taken once daily with or without meals. Take Actos (pioglitazone) at around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your provider or pharmacist to explain any part you don’t understand.
Can Actos (pioglitazone) cause cancer?
The FDA announced that use of Actos (pioglitazone) for the treatment of type 2 diabetes may raise your bladder cancer risk. This isn’t a good drug for people who already have bladder cancer.
Can Actos (pioglitazone) be taken together with glipizide?
Yes, Actos (pioglitazone) and glipizide can be taken together. There’s actually a combination medication that has Actos (pioglitazone) and a similar medication to glipizide, called glimepiride, that’s available as 1 pill.
Take Actos (pioglitazone) once a day with or without food as prescribed by your provider.
May take several weeks to see the full effect on blood sugar control. Continue to follow a healthy diet and exercise regularly while taking Actos (pioglitazone).
Tell your provider about any shortness of breath, heart troubles, or unusual swelling as this medication may not be right for you.
Continue to monitor your hemoglobin A1C while taking Actos (pioglitazone) to check how well your blood sugar is controlled with Actos (pioglitazone).
With any medication, there are risks and benefits. Even if the medication is working, you may experience some unwanted side effects.
Contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following:
Worsening heart failure (shortness of breath, unusual swelling and tiredness, and sudden weight gain)
Diabetic eye disease with swelling (also called macular edema)
Bladder cancer (pain while you urinate, constant need to urinate, and blood in your urine)
Liver problems (nausea or vomiting, stomach pain, unusual tiredness, loss of appetite, dark urine, yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes)
Caution Small
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your doctor know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
- Respiratory infection (like a common cold) (13%)
- Headache (9%)
- Sinus infection (6%)
- Muscle pain (5%)
- Pain or irritation of the throat (5%)
- Swelling
- Low blood sugar
- Weight gain
- Bladder tumors
Actos (pioglitazone) may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Actos (pioglitazone). Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.