About Actos

The information below should not be taken as a substitute for qualified medical advice. Consult your health care provider before taking Actos.

Actos is a drug prescribed to help control blood sugar levels in people who suffer from type 2 diabetes. It is in the class of medications called thiazolidinediones. Actos works by decreasing insulin resistance in a diabetic's body which then allows the insulin that the body produces to be used correctly. This drug is not intended to treat patients with type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis.

Patients start by taking the 15 mg tablets of Actos once daily either before or after eating a meal. If the patient forgets to take a pill, he should skip that dose and take his next pill at the regularly scheduled time. The dosage taken by the patient may be increased as needed based on results of blood sugar level testing. To get the best results while using Actos, the diabetic should eat a healthy diet, exercise and lose weight. Actos will gradually help the patient's body control blood sugar levels, and it can take up to three months before consistent results are achieved.

Premenopausal women who are taking Actos and haven't had normal monthly periods should discuss birth control with their physicians. Actos can restart ovulation in a woman's body and increase her chances of becoming pregnant. Birth control pills interact with Actos and should not be relied upon to prevent pregnancy.

Other medications that can interact with Actos include statins that lower cholesterol, drugs for asthma and drugs used to treat fungal infections. The patient should consult his physician to determine if a switch to a different medication or a change in dosage is needed.

What is Pioglitazone?

Pioglitazone is the generic equivalent of Actos and can be purchased as a cheaper alternative to save money on your medication. The same active ingredients are used in the manufacturing of the brand name version of this drug as in Pioglitazone.