Compare Amaryl vs. Actos

Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.

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Amaryl (glimepiride)

Prescription only

Actos (pioglitazone)

Prescription only
Lowers blood sugar.

Amaryl (glimepiride) is an effective medicine for lowering blood sugar, but it can cause weight gain.

Lowers blood sugar.

Actos (pioglitazone) can improve blood sugar control but is not a top choice since it has a lot of side effects.

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3.1/ 5 average rating with 175 reviewsforActos
Upsides
  • Needs to be taken only once a day.
  • Effectively lowers blood sugar and A1c levels by 1-2%. (A1c is a test that measures your average blood sugars over the past 3 months).
  • Amaryl (glimepiride) is an oral medicine so it might be a good alternative for those who don't like injections.
  • Protects your organs and blood vessels by preventing the harmful effects of high blood sugar levels.
  • Available as a generic form and is relatively cheap.
  • Improves sugar control and lowers A1c levels by around 1%.
  • Easily taken by mouth as a once a day pill.
  • Prevents the harmful effects of high sugar levels on your organs.
  • Rarely causes low blood sugar.
  • Lower the risk of heart attack or stroke.
Downsides
  • Amaryl (glimepiride) might cause weight gain.
  • Has a higher risk than other diabetes medicine for causing blood sugar levels to be too low.
  • Not preferred for people age 65 or older because they are at higher risk of experiencing side effects such as low blood sugar.
  • Might lose its effectiveness over time.
  • Needs to be taken 30 minutes before a meal for it to be most effective.
  • May take several weeks to lower blood sugar.
  • Can cause weight gain.
  • People with heart failure or history of bladder cancer shouldn't use this medicine.
  • Some people might get fluid accumulation (edema), from minor ankle swelling to fluid in lungs that makes it hard to breathe.
  • Raises the risk of bone fractures, especially for people who already have a risk for fractures.
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Used for
Dosage forms
  • Pill
  • Pill
Price
Lowest price
$17.00
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Lowest price
$14.62
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Reviews
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175 reviews so far
42%
saidit'sworth it
30%
saiditworked well
21%
saidit'sa big hassle

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Side effects
5possible side effects
  • Headache
    8%
  • Accidental injury
    6%
  • Flu syndrome
    5%
  • Nausea
    5%
  • Dizziness
    5%
See more detailed side effects
11possible side effects
  • Low blood sugar
    27%
  • Swelling
    27%
  • Colds and flu
    13%
  • Headache
    9%
  • Heart failure
    8%
  • Sinus infection
    6%
  • Back pain
    6%
  • Pain in arms and legs
    6%
  • Muscle pain
    5%
  • Sore throat
    5%
  • Chest pain
    5%
See more detailed side effects
Risks and risk factors
  • Low blood sugar
    • Skipping meals or having inconsistent meal times
    • Drinking alcohol
    • Using other blood sugar-lowering medicine
    • People age 60 or older
    • Those with kidney and/or liver problems
  • Severe allergic reaction
    • History of allergy to sulfa-containing medicine
  • Breakdown of red blood cells
    • People with G6PD deficiency
  • Serious heart problems
  • Kidney and liver disease
    • Those with kidney and/or liver disease
See more detailed risks and warnings
  • Heart failure
    • Heart failure
  • Fluid buildup
  • Liver damage
    • Current liver problems
  • Bladder cancer
    • History of bladder cancer
  • Bone fracture
    • Women
  • Low blood sugar
See more detailed risks and warnings
Learn more about Amaryl (glimepiride)
Learn more about Actos (pioglitazone)