Avandi is an antihyperglycemic agent. It helps the body respond better to insulin and it reduces the amount of sugar produced by the liver. It can help control blood sugar levels.
Avandia is used, along with diet and exercise, in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Avandia may also be used with a sulfonylurea (e.g., Diabeta, Glucotrol, Micronase, others), metformin (Glucophage), or insulin when diet and exercise plus any one of these medicines alone do not result in adequate blood sugar control.
How to use this product
Take each dose with a full glass of water.
Avandia can be taken with or without food or meals.
It is important to take Avandia regularly to get the most benefit.
Your doctor may want you to have blood or urine tests or other medical evaluations during treatment with Avandia to monitor blood sugar levels, liver function, or other factors.
Usually, liver function is monitored with blood tests at the start of treatment, every two months for the first year of treatment, and periodically thereafter during treatment with Avandia. Notify your doctor immediately if you develop nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, unusual fatigue, loss of appetite, yellow skin or eyes, or dark urine. These symptoms may be early signs of liver problems.
Although Avandia does not usually cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), hypoglycemia may result from skipped meals, excessive exercise, or alcohol consumption. Know the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia, which include headache, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, fast heartbeat, sweating, tremor, and nausea. Carry a piece of non-dietetic hard candy or glucose tablets with you to treat episodes of low blood sugar.
Store Avandia at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Side effects
If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking Avandia and seek emergency medical attention or notify your doctor immediately: an allergic reaction, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, or loss of appetite. Unusual fatigue, yellowing of the skin or eyes, or dark urine.
Notify your doctor immediately if you experience an unusually rapid increase in weight or edema (swelling, water retention), shortness of breath, or chest pain during treatment with Avandia. These may be early symptoms of heart problems.
Although Avandia does not usually cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), hypoglycemia may result from skipped meals, excessive exercise, or alcohol consumption. Know the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia, which include headache, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, fast heartbeat, sweating, tremor and nausea. Carry a piece of hard non-dietetic candy or glucose tablets with you to treat episodes of low blood sugar.
Other less serious side effects may also occur. Continue to take Avandia and talk to your doctor if you experience: headache or sore throat, nasal discharge, or cold symptoms.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
Precautions
Do not take Avandia without first talking to your doctor if you have liver disease.
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have heart failure or heart disease. Have edema (water retention or swelling), have type 1 diabetes mellitus, have a serious infection, illness, or injury or need surgery.
You may not be able to take Avandia, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.
Treatment with Avandia may cause resumption of fertility by allowing for the return of ovulation (production of eggs) in certain women with insulin resistance who were not ovulating before treatment with Avandia. Talk to your doctor about adequate forms of birth control while taking Avandia if birth control is desired.
Contact your doctor if you develop a fever or an infection, require surgery, or if you experience a serious injury. Illness or injury may cause a loss of blood sugar control and insulin (or an adjustment of a current insulin dose) may be required for a period of time.
Avandia is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether Avandia will harm an unborn baby. Generally, insulin is the drug of choice for controlling diabetes during pregnancy. Do not take Avandia without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known whether Avandia passes into breast milk. Do not take Avandia without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
The safety and effectiveness of Avandia have not been stablished for children.
Drug Interactions
No drugs have been reported to interact with Avandia although interactions may exist. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products.
