METFORMIN+PIOGLITAZONE is a combination drug consisting of Pioglitazone (Thiazolidinediones), and Metformin (Biguanides) which are called anti-diabetic drugs & used to lower blood sugar levels in diabetic patients. Type 2 diabetes mellitus used to be known as 'non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM)' or 'maturity-onset diabetes'. Type 2 diabetes develops if the body does not produce enough insulin, or where the insulin that your body makes does not work as well as it should. It can also develop if the body produces too much glucagon. Insulin is a substance that helps to lower the level of sugar in your blood, especially after meals.
METFORMIN+PIOGLITAZONE is a blood sugar-lowering drug which contains a combination of Pioglitazone belonging to the class of thiazolidinediones & Metformin belonging to the class of biguanides. Pioglitazone decreases blood sugar and reverses the effects of Type II diabetes by activating switches (PPAR) inside cells to take up free glucose from blood and decrease its levels in blood. Metformin on the other hand decreases blood sugar by decreasing its formation and increasing its consumption by cells thereby decreasing high blood sugar levels. METFORMIN+PIOGLITAZONE is used in adults to treat type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes mellitus when treatment with metformin alone is not sufficient.
METFORMIN+PIOGLITAZONE should be taken with food to avoid an upset stomach. METFORMIN+PIOGLITAZONE should be taken at the same time of the day each time for best results. For better advice, your doctor will decide, what dose should be taken and it can change timely depending upon your condition. Some people may stomach ache, feeling sick (Nausea), vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, localized swelling (oedema), weight gain, headache, respiratory infection, numbness, taste disturbance etc . Most of these side effects of METFORMIN+PIOGLITAZONE do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor.
METFORMIN+PIOGLITAZONE should not be stopped even if you feel better, without consulting your doctor as sugar level keeps changing. If you stop taking METFORMIN+PIOGLITAZONE abruptly, it may increase your sugar levels which could further increase the risk of eyesight loss (retinopathy), kidney (nephropathy) and nerve damage (neuropathy). METFORMIN+PIOGLITAZONE should not be taken if you have type 1 diabetes mellitus, severe kidney or liver disease. Please inform your doctor if you have any heart disease, is or planning to get pregnant or breastfeeding.
Type II diabetes (Non insulin-dependent diabetes).
METFORMIN+PIOGLITAZONE lowers blood sugar in type II diabetic patients (Non insulin dependent ) & prevents diseases of the heart, kidneys, eyes & blood vessels in feet, which happens due to persistently high levels of blood sugar in diabetic patients. METFORMIN+PIOGLITAZONE plays a vital role in controlling blood sugar levels and prevents serious complications of diabetes like eyesight loss (retinopathy), kidney (nephropathy), nerve damage (neuropathy), diabetic foot ulcer and delayed wound healing. METFORMIN+PIOGLITAZONE lowers blood sugar due to activation of cell switches (PPAR) to take up free glucose from blood & use it for energy production (Pioglitazones) & decrease production of glucose inside liver (Metformin) .
METFORMIN+PIOGLITAZONE should not be used in patients with type 1 diabetes or with diabetic ketoacidosis. Some diabetic patients, while taking METFORMIN+PIOGLITAZONE, might develop a rare but serious condition called lactic acidosis. In this condition, there is too much lactic acid accumulated in the blood that can damage the working of your liver and kidney required for the elimination of excess lactic acid from the blood. Before you start taking METFORMIN+PIOGLITAZONE, tell your doctor if you’ve ever had pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), kidney disease, and low vitamin B12 level. METFORMIN+PIOGLITAZONE, when used with insulin, may extremely lower the blood sugar level leading to hypoglycemia condition, which can be fatal. In this case, your doctor may adjust the dose by lowering the dose of insulin or METFORMIN+PIOGLITAZONE. Prolonged intake of METFORMIN+PIOGLITAZONE may lower your thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH); hence, an annual check-up of TSH is recommended. In rare cases, you may also develop a serious skin reaction known as bullous pemphigoid that requires immediate medical attention. Tell your doctor if you are going to have a diagnostic test with an injection of dye or X-ray contrast agent. The use of METFORMIN+PIOGLITAZONE should be stopped for a short time before having an X-ray procedure.
Drug-Drug Interaction: METFORMIN+PIOGLITAZONE interacts with heart medications like (propranolol), pain killers (aspirin, ibuprofen, and celecoxib), high blood pressure-lowering pills (nifedipine, captopril, enalapril, lisinopril), thyroid hormones (thyroxine), antacid (cimetidine), or certain medicines affecting the nervous system.
Drug-Food Interaction: Intake of excessive alcoholic beverages may increase the chance of a life-threatening condition known as Lactic Acidosis. So, avoid intake of alcoholic beverages with METFORMIN+PIOGLITAZONE.
Drug-Disease Interaction: People affected with heart, liver, kidney diseases (like congestive heart failure and myocardial infarction), vitamin B12 deficiency, and alcoholism should avoid intake of METFORMIN+PIOGLITAZONE.
Not recommended with alcohol as it may result in harmful decrease or increase in levels of blood sugar depends on how much alcohol a patient has consumed.
Not recommended in pregnancy. METFORMIN+PIOGLITAZONE treatment should be stopped and replaced with any other alternative drug from other blood sugar-lowering agents on recommendation of a doctor. You must tell your doctor if you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby.
Not recommended in breastfeeding mothers. Do not use METFORMIN+PIOGLITAZONE if you are breastfeeding or are planning to breast-feed as doctor's consultation is required.
Safe to use during driving or operating heavy machinery. This medicine will not affect your ability to drive or use machines but care is to be taken if you experience abnormal vision or anything that affects your ability to drive.
METFORMIN+PIOGLITAZONE should be used with caution in patients with liver disease as METFORMIN+PIOGLITAZONE has been found to cause harmful interactions in them. Doctors recommendation is required before taking this drug.
METFORMIN+PIOGLITAZONE should be taken with caution in patients with kidney disease. In rare cases, serious interaction has been found in kidney patients called lactic acidosis thus doctors consultation is required before taking this drug.
Not recommended in children below 12 years of age. Use in children and adolescents under 18 years is not recommended. Consult a doctor for better alternatives blood sugar-lowering agents in diabetic children.
Contact your doctor immediately if you have nausea, vomiting, kussmaul breathing (laboured and deep), and generalised weakness which are symptoms of Lactic acidosis, a very rare but serious metabolic complication.
Type 2 diabetes is a condition where the body is unable to make sufficient insulin, or the insulin that it makes doesn't work properly or utilized by our body. This can cause high blood sugar levels (hyperglycaemia). Symptoms of type 2 diabetes include increased thirst, frequent urination, slow , 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 includes neuropathy (nerve problems), nephropathy (kidney problems), and retinopathy (damaged retina of eyes or blindness), loss of limbs, sexual dysfunction, and increase the chance of heart attack or stroke.