What is Avandia used for? Avandia, in addition to diet and exercise,
improves blood sugar control in adults with type 2 (non-insulin-dependent)
diabetes. Avandia can be used alone or in combination with a sulfonylurea or metformin,
when diet, exercise, and one of these agents or diet, exercise, plus Avandia alone are not
enough to control blood sugar. Who should not take Avandia?
- Do not use Avandia for type I diabetes (juvenile diabetes) or diabetic
ketoacidosis.
- If you have heart failure, fluid retention or active liver disease your health
care provider will evaluate you to decide if Avandia is right for you.
General Precautions with Avandia:
- In drug testing, Avandia did not cause liver toxicity or an increase in liver
enzymes. However, Avandia is in the same class of drugs as Rezulin, which has been
associated with rare but serious liver injury, including liver failure leading to
transplant or death.
- Because Avandia’s liver safety profile is not fully determined yet, your
doctor will do blood tests that evaluate your liver before starting you on Avandia. These
blood tests should be repeated every two months for the first year, then regularly after
that.
- Call your health care provider right away if you develop nausea, vomiting,
stomach pain, a feeling of tiredness, or having no energy, loss of appetite, dark urine,
or jaundice (yellow coloring of eyes and skin). These may be symptoms of liver problems.
- When taking Avandia with other oral diabetes medicines, there is a risk of your
blood sugar becoming dangerously low. Ask your health care provider abut symptoms of low
blood sugar, conditions that make low blood sugar more likely, and what to do if you get
it. Make sure to explain to family members.
- If you are a woman who has not reached menopause but have not had menstrual
periods; you may become pregnant unless you use an effective method of birth control.
Avandia, like other drugs in this class, may cause insulin resistant women to start
ovulating again.
- Women should tell their doctor if they notice any changes in their monthly
menstrual cycle.
- During periods of stress on the body, such as fever, trauma, infection, or
surgery, your medication requirements may change; contact your health care provider
promptly.
Managing your diabetes should include diet control. Caloric restriction,
weight loss as needed, and exercise are essential for the proper treatment of
diabetes because they help improve insulin sensitivity and the effectiveness of drug
therapy.
What are some possible side effects of Avandia? (This list
is NOT a complete list of side effects reported with Avandia. Your health care provider
can discuss with you a more complete list of side effects.)
Cough or cold
Headache
Inflammation of the sinuses
Back pain
Swelling or fluid retention
For more detailed information about Avandia, ask your health care provider.
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