pioglitazone vs rosiglitazone
Side-by-side comparison of pioglitazone and rosiglitazone Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Actos
Avandia
Pioglitazone (Actos) is a medicine that helps control blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. It works along with diet and exercise.
Avandamet is a drug that contains rosiglitazone and metformin. It helps control blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes, along with diet and exercise.
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.
Avandamet is used to help control blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. You should use it with a healthy diet and exercise. It is for people who need both rosiglitazone and metformin to manage their diabetes. You should not take this medication if you are already taking pioglitazone.
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.
This medicine contains rosiglitazone, which makes your body more sensitive to insulin. It also contains metformin, which reduces sugar production in the liver and helps your body use insulin better. Together, these medicines help lower your blood sugar levels.
- • Upper respiratory infection
- • Headache
- • Sinus infection
- • Muscle pain
- • Sore throat
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Diarrhea
- • Headache
- • Upset stomach
- Cancer of the bladder 8,736
- Increased blood sugar 3,385
- Feeling sick to your stomach 2,917
- Weight loss 2,084
- Loose or watery stools 1,680
No adverse event reports.
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.
Rosiglitazone, one of the medicines in Avandamet, can cause or worsen heart failure in some people. Watch for signs like rapid weight gain, shortness of breath, and swelling. If you have these symptoms, contact your doctor right away. Metformin, another medicine in Avandamet, can cause a rare but serious condition called lactic acidosis. Get medical help immediately if you have symptoms like weakness, muscle pain, trouble breathing, or stomach pain.
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.
Do not take Avandamet if you are pregnant. It is not known if this medicine will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the best way to control your blood sugar during pregnancy.
How to Read This pioglitazone vs rosiglitazone Comparison
pioglitazone is classified in the Thiazolidinedione drug class, while rosiglitazone sits within the Thiazolidinedione class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. 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, pioglitazone has 18,802 submissions while rosiglitazone has 0. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between pioglitazone and rosiglitazone — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.