Get Informed: Actos
Active Ingredient(s)
Pioglitazone
What does it do?
This product is used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. It works by increasing the body's sensitivity to insulin.
- Last Text Update:
- 2010-Jul-31 4:15 PM
- Last Data Update:
- 2010-Jul-30 9:13 PM
Other Names
- Actos
- Pioglitazone
- Pioglitazone Hydrochloride
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
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- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category
- C
Black Box Warning
This product has a black box warning relating to its potential to cause or exacerbate heart failure.
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 15 Jul 1999
- Est US Patients*
- 4,186,000
- Generic Available
- No
- OTC Available
- No
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Actos or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Recent alerts for Actos
There have been no iGuard.org alerts regarding Actos during the past year.
Actos Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
- Please login or register (it's free) so iGuard can check how Actos interacts with other drugs and diseases in your profile.
What is Actos used for?
iGuard is currently tracking more than 30,900 patients that use Actos (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Diabetes | 100% |
mild
severe
|
How well does Actos work?
iGuard regularly polls our more than 30,900 users taking Actos (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iGuard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 74%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Actos outweigh the bad things.
- 11%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Actos.
Common Side Effects of Actos
iGuard regularly polls our more than 30,900 users taking Actos (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
12% of patients experience side-effects on Actos
5% of patients experience significant side-effects on Actos
Most Common Side Effects...
-
Weight Gain
-
= 10%
Less than 1%: Grogginess/Confusion, Muscle Pain/Cramps
Global Patient Feedback for Actos (Pioglitazone) ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
i just started actos... and i also have seizures.... I noticed as soon as I started taking actos I got muscle cramps in my legs...could this be from an interaction?
49 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-07-05 01:21:53
iGuard Answer/Reply:
Actos can cause muscle pain. Less than 1% of iGuard patients report muscle cramps with Actos. In clinical trials, 5% of patients report muscle pain when taking Actos. It is possible that the symptoms will decrease as you keep taking the medicine, but you should report your symptoms to your doctor to make sure it is not a more significant reaction.
Posted: 2010-07-12 15:36:57
Question/Comment:
I have been on Actos for several years now and I too have anemia and been on Procrit shots and taking Iron pills. I would like to know as well if these systems are caused by taking Actos?
44 year old Female- California
44 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-04-13 14:23:07
iGuard Answer/Reply:
Actos has been shown to cause anemia in about 1% of patients. Talk with your doctor about the possible causes of your anemia and if the Actos could be contributing to the severity of your condition. If your doctor thinks the Actos is causing it to be worse, discuss possible alternatives to the Actos for treating your diabetes.
Posted: 2010-05-01 12:12:42
Question/Comment:
I have been on Actos for several years. Gained 25 pounds. I became very anemic around the same time. Am having to take monthly Procrit shots and occasional iron IV's. Now the doctor took me off of Actos because we have seen where one of the possible side affects can be anemia. I must wait three months and then have blood work done to see if this has made a difference in the anemia. Lost 26 pounds right away. Also take a diuretic, but have been on that for years.
76 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-03-23 16:02:08
Question/Comment:
My husband was recently diagnosed with Diabetes Type 2 and put on Metformin which debillitated him mentally and physically, he then was put on Actos 15mg and his readings went up, then put on 30mg and they went higher yet. Now they want to try insulan? He's not overweight, he hasn't excercised now because too tired from the Actos which is now causing mental difficulties...Help!
64 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-12-27 16:57:05
Question/Comment:
I have been taking actos for over a year. (45 mg) I can not tell if it is helping my blood sugars at all but it helps me with my colestoral level. Unlike others have mentioned I see no side effects of weight gain or increased appitite. i tried it with Junuvia for awhile but it didnot do anything.
61 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-12-07 16:20:07
You may post comments for the benefit of other patients or post questions other patients might be able to answer. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Only your age and gender will be published with your comment, although your other user details will be securely recorded for verification purposes.
Comments may be either questions or answers to previously posted questions. Any iGuard.org user may post questions and reply.
86
Patient Comments About
Actos