Pioglitazone+glimepiride
About Pioglitazone+glimepiride
Pioglitazone+glimepiride belongs to a group of medicines known as 'antidiabetics', used to treat type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus. In type 2 diabetes the body doesn't make enough insulin, or the insulin is not effectively used by the body. This is a type of diabetes that usually develops in adulthood. Insulin is a natural substance released by the body to break down the sugar of the body.
Pioglitazone+glimepiride is a combination of two drugs namely 'Pioglitazone' and 'Glimepiride'. Pioglitazone belongs to the class of thiazolidinedione (TZD) also called 'glitazones' which helps control the level of sugar in your blood by helping your body to make better use of the insulin it produces. Glimepiride belongs to a class of medicines known as 'sulfonylureas', which works by causing the pancreas to produce more amount of insulin and helping the body to use insulin effectively. This drug also works best for individuals whose bodies naturally produce insulin.
Take Pioglitazone+glimepiride as suggested by the doctor. You are advised to take Pioglitazone+glimepiride for as long as your doctor has prescribed it for you depending on your medical condition. In some cases, you may experience certain common side effects such as upper respiratory tract infection, headache, sinusitis, myalgia (muscle pain) and pharyngitis. Most of these side effects do not require medical attention and will resolve gradually over time. However, you are advised to talk to your doctor if you experience these undesirable effects persistently.
Pioglitazone+glimepiride should not be taken if you have type 1 diabetes mellitus, if you are hypersensitive (allergic) to Pioglitazone+glimepiride or any of the other ingredients of Pioglitazone+glimepiride, have heart failure or have had heart failure in the past, diabetic ketoacidosis (a complication of diabetes causing rapid weight loss, nausea or vomiting), severe kidney or liver disease, bladder cancer. Please inform your doctor if you have any heart disease or planning to get pregnant or breastfeeding. Safety and efficacy of Pioglitazone+glimepiride in children under 18 years have not been established, so it should not be given to them. Pioglitazone+glimepiride is safe to taken by elderly persons whose age is 65 or over if prescribed by the doctor.
Uses of Pioglitazone+glimepiride
Medicinal Benefits
Pioglitazone+glimepiride is an antidiabetic drug used along with a proper diet and exercise to control high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) in patients with type 2 diabetes. Pioglitazone+glimepiride works by helping to restore your body's appropriate response to insulin, thereby lowering your blood sugar. Pioglitazone+glimepiride may be used on its own in patients who are unable to take metformin and where treatment with diet and exercise has failed to control blood sugar. As Pioglitazone+glimepiride helps to control the high blood sugar levels in the body, so it prevents the risk of blindness, nerve problems, kidney damage and other serious medical issues like a heart attack.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Pioglitazone+glimepiride
- Headache
- Sinusitis
- Myalgia (muscle pain)
- Upper respiratory tract infection
- Urinary tract infection
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Pharyngitis (inflammation of pharynx located back of neck)
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Type 2 diabetes: It is a condition where the body is unable to make sufficient insulin, or the insulin that it makes doesn't work properly or is utilized by our body. This can cause high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia). Symptoms of type 2 diabetes include increased thirst, frequent urination at night, slow wound healing, increased hunger, fatigue, and blurred vision. In some cases, there may be weight gain while in rare cases weight loss may be observed. The complication of type 2 diabetes also include neuropathy (nerve problems), nephropathy (kidney problems) and retinopathy (damaged retina of eyes or blindness), loss of limbs, sexual dysfunction and increase chance of heart attack or stroke.
FAQs
Pioglitazone+glimepiride is used to lower the blood sugar however if your sugar level gets reduced to a very low level and you start experiencing symptoms including hunger, sweating, dizziness, headache and feeling shaky. To treat such a condition, it is suggested to keep a fast-acting source of sugar in your bag that include hard candy, raisins and non-diet soda and consult your doctor immediately.
Controlling blood sugar in pregnancy becomes very important as it may cause complications in both mother and unborn child. However, the Pioglitazone+glimepiride should be stopped before few days of the due date, your doctor may switch to other medication.
Pioglitazone+glimepiride increases the chances of ovulation even if the woman is at her premenopause stage or not getting her regular periods, so it is advised to use an effective birth control method while taking Pioglitazone+glimepiride.
Pioglitazone+glimepiride should not be used in certain medical conditions that include diabetic ketoacidosis (dangerously high blood sugar levels), severe heart failure and active bladder cancer.
Colesevelam may reduce the absorption of Pioglitazone+glimepiride, so it is advised to take Pioglitazone+glimepiride at least 4 hours before taking colesevelam.
Type-2 diabetes generally does not affect healthy children and teens, but it may affect children who are obese, which is also known as Childhood Obesity.
Hypoglycemia refers to low blood sugar levels and it is one of the side effects of Pioglitazone+glimepiride. Hypoglycemia can occur if you miss or delay your food, drink alcohol, over-exercise or take other antidiabetic medicine along with this medicine. It is important to monitor blood sugar levels regularly.
If you have symptoms like increased hunger, increased thirst, frequent urination (usually at night), unexplained weight loss, fatigue, blurred vision, slow wound/sores healing and frequent infections, contact the doctor as it can be a condition of diabetes.
In case you feel that your blood sugar level is going down and you are feeling weak, immediately eat sugar candies or drink sugary beverages. It will help to balance the blood sugar level in your body. So, it is advisable to keep sugar candies with you and consult your doctor immediately.
