Actos (Pioglitazone) for Diabetes

Overview

Actos is a prescription drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help improve blood glucose control in adults with type 2 diabetes. Actos is considered an adjunct treatment to diet and exercise. Actos is also referred to by its drug name, Pioglitazone. Actos may be prescribed alone or with an insulin, sulfonylurea, or biguanide.

Actos is a thiazolidinedione, also known as a glitazone. Actos is believed to work by decreasing the amount of glucose released by the liver and making insulin more effective in muscle and fat tissues.

How do I take it?

Prescribing information states that Actos is generally taken once daily with or without meals.

Actos comes in tablet form.

Side effects

The FDA-approved label for Actos lists common side effects including flu-like symptoms, muscle pain, back pain, gradual weight gain, and pain in the mouth or teeth.

Rare but serious side effects listed for Actos include heart failure.