Pioglitazone Side Effects and Warnings

What are the precautions when taking this medicine?

• Wear disease medical alert identification.

• If you are 80 or older, use this medicine with caution. You could have more side effects.

• If you have a weakened heart, talk with healthcare provider.

• Do not drive if blood sugar has been low. There is a greater risk of an accident.

• Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.

• If you are on a lactose-free diet, talk with healthcare provider.

• Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor).

• Risk of pregnancy in females of childbearing age who have not been ovulating.

• Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant.

• Birth control pills and other hormone-based birth control may not work to prevent pregnancy. Use another form of birth control while taking this medicine.

What are some possible side effects of this medicine?

• Low blood sugar. Signs include anger, shaking, fast heartbeat, confusion, or sweating. Keep hard candies, glucose tablets, liquid glucose, or juice on hand for low blood sugar.

• Headache.

• Swelling.

• Weight gain.

• Nasal irritation.

• Cough.

• Feeling tired or weak.

• Weakened bones.

• Heart failure can occur.

• Liver damage can rarely occur.

Reasons to call healthcare provider immediately

• If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center or emergency department immediately.

• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Signs or symptoms of infection. These include a fever of 100.5 degrees or higher, chills, severe sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough, increased sputum or change in color, painful urination, mouth sores, wound that will not heal, or anal itching or pain.

• Difficulty breathing.

• Very low blood sugar or very high blood sugar.

• Severe belly pain.

• Swelling of legs or belly.

• Severe nausea or vomiting.

• Not able to eat.

• Significant weight gain.

• Dark urine or yellow skin or eyes.

• Feeling extremely tired or weak.

• Sudden change in vision or in the way you see color.

• Any rash.

• No improvement in condition or feeling worse.