metformin/pioglitazone vs pioglitazone
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Side-by-side comparison of metformin/pioglitazone and pioglitazone. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
minor Known Drug Interaction
( 7.1 ) CYP2C8 inducers (e.g., rifampin) may decrease pioglitazone concentrations. ( 7.6 ) Topiramate may decrease pioglitazone concentrations. ( 7.8 ) 7.1 Strong CYP2C8 Inhibitors An inhibitor of CYP2C8 (e.g., gemfibrozil) significantly increases the exposure (area under the serum concentration-time curve or AUC) and half-life (t ½ ) of pioglitazone.
Actoplus Met
Actos
Actoplus Met is a drug that combines two medicines to help control blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. It should be used with diet and exercise.
Pioglitazone (Actos) is a medicine that helps control blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. It works along with diet and exercise.
Actoplus Met helps lower blood sugar in adults who have type 2 diabetes. You should also follow a diet and exercise plan while taking this medicine. Actoplus Met is not for people with type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis.
Pioglitazone is used to help manage blood sugar in adults who have type 2 diabetes. It is used in addition to diet and exercise. This medicine will not work for type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis.
Actoplus Met contains pioglitazone and metformin. Pioglitazone makes your body more sensitive to insulin. Metformin reduces the amount of sugar your liver releases into your blood.
Pioglitazone belongs to a class of drugs called thiazolidinediones. It makes your body more sensitive to insulin, which helps lower blood sugar. It works by activating a certain receptor in your body called PPAR gamma.
- • Upper respiratory infection
- • Swelling
- • Diarrhea
- • Headache
- • Weight gain
- • Upper respiratory infection
- • Headache
- • Sinus infection
- • Muscle pain
- • Sore throat
- Feeling sick to your stomach 21,946
- Loose or watery stools 21,887
- High blood sugar 18,329
- Feeling tired 17,252
- Sudden kidney damage 16,440
- Bladder Cancer 8,736
- Blood Glucose Increased 3,385
- Nausea 2,919
- Weight Decreased 2,083
- Diarrhoea 1,679
Actoplus Met can cause or worsen heart failure in some people. Watch for signs like rapid weight gain, shortness of breath, and swelling. This medicine can also cause a rare but serious condition called lactic acidosis. Get medical help right away if you have symptoms like feeling very weak, muscle pain, trouble breathing, or stomach pain.
Pioglitazone can cause or worsen heart failure in some people. Watch for signs like rapid weight gain, shortness of breath, and swelling. If you have heart failure, it should be managed, and stopping or lowering the dose of pioglitazone should be considered. If you have severe heart failure (NYHA Class III or IV), you should not start taking pioglitazone.
Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Actoplus Met will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
It is not known if pioglitazone can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if pioglitazone passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor about breastfeeding while taking this medicine.
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How to Read This metformin/pioglitazone vs pioglitazone Comparison
metformin/pioglitazone is classified in the Biguanide / TZD Combination drug class, while pioglitazone sits within the Thiazolidinedione class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, metformin/pioglitazone has 95,854 submissions while pioglitazone has 18,802. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to other medications can change how your body processes pioglitazone, leading to levels that are either too high or too low.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for metformin/pioglitazone or pioglitazone.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.