Pioglitazone is used for:

Treating type 2 diabetes in certain patients. It is used along with diet and exercise. It may be used alone or with other antidiabetic medicines.

Pioglitazone is a thiazolidinedione antidiabetic. It lowers blood sugar by making the cells of the body more sensitive to the action of insulin.

Do NOT use Pioglitazone if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Pioglitazone
• you have moderate to severe heart failure
• you have type 1 diabetes
• you have a history of liver problems, including jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), during therapy with a similar medicine called troglitazone

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Pioglitazone :

Some medical conditions may interact with Pioglitazone. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have diabetic ketoacidosis (a severe problem associated with diabetes)
• if you have a history of liver problems, abnormal liver function tests, heart problems (eg, congestive heart failure), or eye or vision problems
• if you have swelling problems (edema)

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Pioglitazone. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Gemfibrozil, insulin, or oral antidiabetic medicines (eg, glipizide) because the risk of low blood sugar may be increased
• Rifampin because it may decrease Pioglitazone 's effectiveness, resulting in high blood sugar
• Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin) because their effectiveness may be decreased or the risk of their side effects may be increased by Pioglitazone

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Pioglitazone may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Pioglitazone :

Use Pioglitazone as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Take Pioglitazone by mouth with or without food.
• Continue to take Pioglitazone even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses. Taking Pioglitazone at the same time each day will help you remember to take it.
• If you miss a dose of Pioglitazone , take it as soon as possible. If it almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Pioglitazone.

Important safety information:

• Carry an ID card at all times that says you have diabetes.
• Proper diet, regular exercise, and regular blood sugar testing are important for best results with Pioglitazone. Follow the diet and exercise program given to you by your health care provider.
• Check your blood sugar levels as directed by your doctor. If they are often higher than they should be and you take Pioglitazone exactly as prescribed, tell your doctor.
• It may be harder to control your blood sugar during times of stress such as fever, infection, injury, or surgery. Talk with your doctor about how to control your blood sugar if any of these occur. Do not change the dose of your medicine without checking with your doctor.
• Do NOT take more than the recommended dose without checking with your doctor.
• Pioglitazone may lower your blood sugar levels when it is used along with insulin or other oral diabetic medicines. Low blood sugar may make you anxious, sweaty, weak, dizzy, drowsy, or faint. It may also make your heart beat faster; make your vision change; give you a headache, chills, or tremors; or make you more hungry. It is a good idea to carry a reliable source of glucose (eg, tablets or gel) to treat low blood sugar. If this is not available, you should eat or drink a quick source of sugar like table sugar, honey, candy, orange juice, or non-diet soda. This will raise your blood sugar level quickly. Tell your doctor right away if this happens. To prevent low blood sugar, eat meals at the same time each day and do not skip meals.
• Pioglitazone may cause ovulation in women who have not reached menopause but do not ovulate. Be sure to use effective birth control while using Pioglitazone.
• Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Pioglitazone before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
• Pioglitazone may be associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer. Discuss any questions or concerns with your doctor.
• Lab tests, including fasting blood sugar, hemoglobin A_1c, eye examinations, and liver function, may be performed while you use Pioglitazone. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Pioglitazone should not be used in CHILDREN younger than 18 years old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Pioglitazone while you are pregnant. It is not known if Pioglitazone is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Pioglitazone.

Possible side effects of Pioglitazone :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Headache; muscle aches; sore throat; weight gain.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); blurred vision or other vision changes; symptoms of heart failure (eg, shortness of breath; sudden unexplained weight gain; swelling of the hands, ankles, or feet); symptoms of liver problems (eg, dark urine; yellowing of the skin or eyes; unexplained nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite; stomach pain); symptoms of low blood sugar (eg, anxiety, increased sweating, dizziness or drowsiness, headache, chills, tremors, increased hunger); unusual tiredness or weakness.

What is the shelf life of the pills?

• The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.