Compare Duetact vs. Actos

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

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Lowers blood sugar.

Duetact (pioglitazone / glimepiride) combines 2 different anti-diabetic medicines into one to help improve blood sugar control, but it is associated with serious complications such as heart failure.

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
  • Taken only once a day.
  • Effectively lowers A1c levels and greatly improves blood sugar control as a combination medicine compared to taking the 2 individual medicines alone.
  • Duetact (pioglitazone / glimepiride) is a good add-on treatment option for people who are unable to fully control their blood sugar levels through diet and exercise alone.
  • Duetact (pioglitazone / glimepiride) is an oral medicine so it might be a good alternative for those who don't like injections.
  • 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
  • Duetact (pioglitazone / glimepiride) might cause weight gain.
  • Might not be a good treatment option for people with heart failure or liver problems.
  • Might cause bone fractures, especially for women.
  • Relatively expensive as a combination medicine compared to the 2 individual medicines alone.
  • Not recommended for people age 65 or older and those with kidney problems because they are more likely to experience side effects such as low blood sugar.
  • 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
$103.21
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$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
The Duetact (pioglitazone / glimepiride) FDA package insert doesn’t have numbers about how common side effects are.
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
  • Fluid retention and heart failure
    • Those with a history of heart failure
  • Low blood sugar
    • Skipping meals or having inconsistent meal times
    • Drinking alcohol
    • Using other blood sugar-lowering medicines
    • People age 60 or older
    • Those with kidney problems
  • Bone fractures
    • Females
  • Effect on liver function
    • Those with a history of liver problems
  • Bladder cancer
    • Those with active bladder cancer or a history of it
  • Severe allergic reaction
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 Duetact (pioglitazone / glimepiride)
Learn more about Actos (pioglitazone)