• This medicine may cause or worsen heart failure. Talk with healthcare provider.
• A small number of people may develop an acidity to their blood. Metformin can cause this. It may occur in people whose liver or kidneys do not work normally.
• This medicine does not mix well with some medicines. Serious reactions may occur. Check all medicines with healthcare provider.
• Please read the medication guide.
• Do not give this medicine to a child. Talk with healthcare provider.
• If you have an allergy to metformin, pioglitazone, or any other part of this medicine.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.
• If you have any of the following conditions: Acidic blood condition, dehydration, drink alcohol to excess, kidney disease, liver disease, or severely weakened heart.
• If you have active liver disease or yellowing skin or eyes during troglitazone therapy.
• If you are having an x-ray with dye.
• If you are breast-feeding.
• Pioglitazone increases insulin activity in the body.
• Metformin reduces sugar production and helps insulin work better.
• Take this medicine at a similar time of day.
• Take this medicine with food.
• Long-acting tablet: Swallow whole. Do not chew, break, or crush.
• Follow diet plan and exercise program as recommended by healthcare provider.
• Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your regular schedule.
• Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
• Do not change dose or stop medicine. Talk with healthcare provider.
• Store at room temperature.
• Protect from light.
• Protect from moisture. Do not store in a bathroom or kitchen.
Created: 2006-10-13 15:07:27.0
Modified: 2010-06-30 15:17:46.0
Lexi-PALS TM © (1977)-(2007) Lexi-Comp, Inc. All rights reserved.
• Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the same?
• Check blood sugar as directed by healthcare provider.
• Check blood work regularly. Talk with healthcare provider.
• Check weight weekly. Report a weight change to healthcare provider.
• Have a yearly eye exam and visit to the foot doctor.
• If you have a life-threatening allergy, wear allergy identification at all times.
• Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's medicine.
• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
• Most medicines can be thrown away in household trash after mixing with coffee grounds or kitty litter and sealing in a plastic bag.
• Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, natural products, supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, physician assistant).
• Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or in Canada to Health Canada's Canada Vigilance Program at 1-866-234-2345.
• Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter, natural products, or vitamins.
• Wear disease medical alert identification.
• You should stop this medicine for 2 days after an x-ray with dye.
• Use caution if you are having surgery, if you have a heart attack, severe infection, or stroke, or if you are 80 years of age or older and have not had your kidney function tested.
• If you have lung disease, talk with healthcare provider.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Belly pain.
• Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.
• Diarrhea.
• Abnormal taste. This is usually reversible.
• Swelling.
• Headache.
• Nasal irritation.
• Cough.
• Weight gain.
• Weakened bones.
• Liver damage can rarely occur.
• Heart failure can occur.
• Blood acidity (lactic acidosis) may rarely occur.
• 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.
• Very low blood sugar or very high blood sugar.
• Severe dizziness.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Feeling cold.
• Swelling of legs or belly.
• Severe belly pain.
• Severe nausea or vomiting.
• Severe diarrhea.
• Severe muscle pain or weakness.
• Not able to eat.
• Significant weight gain.
• Sudden change in vision or in the way you see color.
• Dark urine or yellow skin or eyes.
• Feeling extremely tired or weak.
• Any rash.
• No improvement in condition or feeling worse.
