metformin/pioglitazone vs rifampin

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Side-by-side comparison of metformin/pioglitazone and rifampin. 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. 7.2 CYP2C8 Inducers An inducer of CYP2C8 (e.g., rifampin) may significantly decrease the exposure (AUC) of pioglitazone.

Drug Class
metformin/pioglitazone Biguanide / TZD Combination
rifampin Rifamycin Antibiotic
Type
metformin/pioglitazone Prescription
rifampin Prescription
Summary
metformin/pioglitazone

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.

rifampin

Rifampin is an antibiotic medicine. It fights bacteria in your body to treat infections.

What It Treats
metformin/pioglitazone

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.

rifampin

Rifampin treats tuberculosis (TB) and helps eliminate the bacteria that cause meningitis from your nose and throat. It is important to use rifampin only for infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by bacteria. This helps to prevent bacteria from becoming resistant to the medicine.

How It Works
metformin/pioglitazone

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.

rifampin

Rifampin works by stopping bacteria from growing and multiplying. It does this by blocking a key enzyme that the bacteria need to make proteins. This helps your body fight off the infection.

Common Side Effects
metformin/pioglitazone
  • Upper respiratory infection
  • Swelling
  • Diarrhea
  • Headache
  • Weight gain
rifampin
  • Heartburn
  • Upset stomach
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
FAERS Reports
metformin/pioglitazone
  • 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
rifampin
  • Drug Interaction 970
  • Drug Reaction With Eosinophilia And Systemic Symptoms 727
  • Nausea 628
  • Condition Aggravated 550
  • Pyrexia 541
Serious Warnings
metformin/pioglitazone

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.

rifampin

Rifampin can cause liver problems. Tell your doctor right away if you have yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, or stomach pain. Rifampin can also cause blood problems. Tell your doctor if you have unusual bleeding or bruising.

Pregnancy
metformin/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.

rifampin

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Rifampin can make birth control pills less effective, so use other forms of birth control. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.

How to Read This metformin/pioglitazone vs rifampin Comparison

metformin/pioglitazone is classified in the Biguanide / TZD Combination drug class, while rifampin sits within the Rifamycin Antibiotic 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 rifampin has 3,416. 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 rifampin causes your body to break down pioglitazone much faster than normal, which can lower the amount of medicine in your system.. 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 rifampin.

Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.