Actos (Pioglitazone HCl)

Actos is a medicine used to treat adults with type 2 diabetes along with diet and exercise. It can be used alone or with other diabetes medications.

Actos can cause your body to retain extra fluid, which leads to swelling and weight gain. Extra body fluid can cause or worsen heart failure. Tell your doctor right away if you experience swelling or fluid retention, especially in your ankles or legs; shortness of breath or trouble breathing, especially when you lie down; unusually fast increase in your weight; or unusual tiredness. Actos can cause liver problems. Tell your doctor right away if you experience nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, unusual or unexplained tiredness, loss of appetite, dark urine, or yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes. In women, Actos can cause bones to break, usually in the hand, upper arm, or foot. Talk to your doctor about how to keep your bones healthy. Actos can increase your risk of developing bladder cancer. Do not take Actos if you are receiving treatment for bladder cancer. Tell your doctor right away if you experience blood or a red color in your urine, an increased need to urinate, or pain while you urinate. Actos can cause low blood sugar, making you feel lightheaded, dizzy, shaky, and hungry. This can happen if you skip meals, use another medicine that lowers your blood sugar, or have certain medical problems. Tell your doctor if this is a problem for you. Actos can cause a diabetic eye disease called macular edema (swelling of the back of the eye). Tell your doctor right away if you have any changes in your vision. Your doctor will check your eyes regularly. Actos can increase your chance of getting pregnant if you are a premenopausal woman and do not have regular monthly periods. Talk to your doctor about receiving an adequate form of birth control while you are taking Actos.