Actos - What it is
Actos, active ingredient pioglitazone hydrochloride, is a medicine that is available by prescription only. It is prescribed for the treatment of type two diabetes, which is also called non insulin dependent diabetes. It can be taken on its own or used in conjunction with other types of medications for diabetes.
This medication is not meant to treat type one diabetes. Visit Actos and type one diabetes to learn more.
Who is the maker?
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company is the manufacturer of Actos.
How it works
In general, the body digests food into usable nutrients. One of these nutrients is sugar, which is the main energy source for the body. The pancreas makes Insulin and it is essential in allowing glucose into the cells of the body to make energy.
For those that have type two diabetes, the body can make some insulin, but it's not enough. The cells have also become resistant to insulin effects, which means that the body cannot respond to it. This is known as insulin resistance. When muscles develop a resistance to insulin the body cannot use glucose properly. The body tells the pancreas to make more insulin because it is trying to use it correctly. Extra insulin forces the cells to take more glucose from the blood. This will contribute to high levels of glucose in the blood. Over time, the pancreas can no longer make insulin to make up for the resistance. This causes the glucose levels in the blood to go up.
Possible side effects
All prescription drugs have the possibility of causing side effects. If you're being treated with Actos, there is the potential to have side effects. Not all people that are treated with this drug will have side effects as it is often tolerated well. When you experience side effects, they most often are nothing major and don't require much treatment. Side effects that can be serious aren't reported as often.
Most of the commonly reported side effects might include:
- Headaches
- Upper respiratory infections
- Sinus infections or irritation
- Pain in the muscles
- Water weight gain or swelling