Duetact (Glimepiride/Pioglitazone) for Diabetes

Overview

Duetact is a prescription drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help improve blood glucose control in adults with type 2 diabetes. You may be a candidate for Duetact if you are already taking a thiazolidinedione such as Actos and a sulfonylurea such as Amaryl, or if you are taking a drug from one of these classes and still have uncontrolled blood glucose levels.

Duetact is a combination drug composed of the drugs Glimepiride, the active ingredient in Amaryl, and Pioglitazone, the active ingredient in Actos. Glimepiride is a sulfonylurea. Glimepiride is believed to work by increasing the amount of insulin released by the pancreas. Pioglitazone is a thiazolidinedione, also known as a glitazone. Pioglitazone 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 Duetact is generally taken once daily with the morning meal.

Duetact comes in tablet form.

Side effects

The FDA-approved label for Duetact lists common side effects including cold symptoms, blurry vision, weight gain, dizziness, nausea, diarrhea, and headache.

Rare but serious side effects listed for Duetact include congestive heart failure and systemic allergic reaction.