Avandia (Rosiglitazone) for Diabetes

Overview

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

Avandia is a thiazolidinedione, also known as a glitazone. Avandia 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 Avandia is generally taken once or twice a day.

Avandia comes in tablet form.

Side effects

The FDA-approved label for Avandia lists common side effects including flu-like symptoms, headache, back pain, and hyperglycemia.

Rare but serious side effects listed for Avandia include heart failure and anemia.