Actos
(pioglitazone)
Lowers blood sugar.
Our bottom line
Actos (pioglitazone) can improve blood sugar control but is not a top choice since it has a lot of side effects.
- Drug class: Endocrine
- Rx status: Prescription only
- Generic status: Lower-cost generic available (pioglitazone)
Upsides
- 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.
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What to expect from Actos, on one page
Downsides
- 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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What to expect from Actos, on one page
Actos (pioglitazone) is a thiazolidinedione that improves your body's ability to use insulin to lower your blood sugar.
- Drug class: Endocrine
- Rx status: Prescription only
- Generic status: Lower-cost generic available (pioglitazone)
Used for
- Type 2 diabetes
- Prediabetes
- Diabetic nephropathy
Dosage forms
- Pill
Prices and coupons
Skip prices section. Skip to what to expect section.- Pay as low as$4.71Retail priceRetail priceLearn more
- Get free discount$9.00
- CostcoGet free coupon$10.45
- Medicine ShoppeGet free coupon$10.45
What to expect when you take Actos (pioglitazone) for Type 2 diabetes
Skip what to expect section. Skip to side effects section.- First few hoursHoursFirst few daysDaysFirst few weeksWeeksFirst few monthsMonths
- Effectiveness
- Starts to kick inFull effects
- First few hoursHoursFirst few daysDaysFirst few weeksWeeksFirst few monthsMonths
- Possible side effects
- Headache
- Colds and flu
- Low blood sugar
- Swelling
- Heart failure
It can take time for a drug to start working, or for some side effects to go away.
Source: FDA product label and Iodine pharmacistsSide effect rates for Actos (pioglitazone)
- Low blood sugar27%27%19%19%
- Swelling27%27%16%16%
- Colds and flu13%13%9%9%
- Headache9%9%7%7%
- Heart failure8%8%6%6%
- Sinus infection6%6%5%5%
- Back pain6%6%5%5%
- Pain in arms and legs6%6%6%6%
- Muscle pain5%5%3%3%
- Sore throat5%5%1%1%
- Chest pain5%5%5%5%
The placebo bar shows how common a side effect was for people taking a sugar pill instead of Actos.
People taking Actos felt side effect more
People taking Actos felt side effect less
Risks and Warnings for Actos (pioglitazone)
Skip risks section. Skip to common concerns section.- Higher risk if:
- › Heart failure
Actos (pioglitazone) can cause fluid buildup that can cause or worsen heart failure. If you have advanced heart failure, talk to your doctor since you shouldn't use Actos (pioglitazone). Your doctor will check your heart regularly while you're taking Actos (pioglitazone).
This is a black box warning. The FDA requires this warning when there is a significant risk of serious or life-threatening effects that anyone taking the drug should consider.
Pharmacist Q&A
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is this drug for?
This medication treats type 2 diabetes in adults.Common concerns from people taking Actos (pioglitazone)
Final section. Do you want to return to drug navigation?- Take once a day with or without food.
- If you've had liver problems or damage in the past, talk to your doctor before starting Actos (pioglitazone), since there's a small chance that it can hurt your liver. Tell your doctor about any stomach pain that don't go away, dark urine, or yellowing of eyes/skin. Your doctor will check your liver regularly.
- Not worth itLow hassleReviewed Actoson 8/20/2017terrible back and kidney pains75ManA couple weeksType 2 diabetes
- Can cause weight gain, headache, and swelling from fluid build-up.
- Can cause weight gain.
- Not sureLow hassleReviewed ActosHad weight gain without changing eating habits nor exercise habits68Woman
- Not sureBig hassleReviewed Actoson 8/3/2017causes weight gain and frequent trips to bathroom; sometimes you have accidents64WomanTwo years or moreType 2 diabetes