rosiglitazone
Brand names: Avandia
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.
What it does
Avandamet is used to help control blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Common side effects
Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea
Key warnings
Rosiglitazone, one of the medicines in Avandamet, can cause or worsen heart failure in some people.
How It Works
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.
How to Take It
Take Avandamet with meals to reduce stomach upset. Your doctor will tell you how much to take each day. Do not take more than 8 mg of rosiglitazone and 2,000 mg of metformin per day. Your doctor may increase your dose slowly to find what works best for you. Follow your doctor's instructions carefully.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
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.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is close to your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
Storage
Store Avandamet at room temperature, away from light and moisture.
Serious Warnings
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.
Known Drug Interactions
Gastroprokinetic Agents: Cisapride Contraindicated Cisapride: [See Contraindications ( 4.2 )] Lipid-lowering agents: Lomitapide Lovastatin Simvastatin Contraindicated Lomitapide, Lovastatin, Simvastatin: Clarithromycin may increase the exposure of these drugs by inhibition of CYP3A metabolism, thereby increasing the risk of toxicities from these drugs [see Contraindications ( 4.5 ) and Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] Atorvastatin, Pravastatin, Fluvastatin: [See Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] Atorvastatin Pravastatin Use With Caution Fluvastatin No Dose Adjustment Hypoglycemic Agents: N...
Mechanism: Clarithromycin slows down the process your body uses to get rid of rosiglitazone, which can cause the drug to build up in your system.
What to do: Your doctor may need to monitor your blood sugar levels more closely and adjust your medication if needed.
[See Clinical Pharmacology (12.4).] 7.2 Cationic Drugs Although drug interactions for metformin with cationic drugs (e.g., amiloride, digoxin, morphine, procainamide, quinidine, quinine, ranitidine, triamterene, trimethoprim, and vancomycin) remain theoretical (except for cimetidine), careful patient monitoring and dose adjustment of AVANDAMET and/or the interfering drug is recommended in patients who are taking cationic medications that are excreted via the proximal renal tubular secretory system.
Mechanism: Certain drugs use the same pathway to leave the body through the kidneys, which can cause metformin levels to build up.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor you carefully and may need to adjust your medication doses if you take these together.
[See Clinical Pharmacology (12.4).] 7.2 Cationic Drugs Although drug interactions for metformin with cationic drugs (e.g., amiloride, digoxin, morphine, procainamide, quinidine, quinine, ranitidine, triamterene, trimethoprim, and vancomycin) remain theoretical (except for cimetidine), careful patient monitoring and dose adjustment of AVANDAMET and/or the interfering drug is recommended in patients who are taking cationic medications that are excreted via the proximal renal tubular secretory system.
Mechanism: Both drugs use the same cleanup system in the kidneys to leave the body, which might cause the drugs to stay in your system longer.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor you closely and may need to change your dose of either medication.
[See Clinical Pharmacology (12.4).] 7.2 Cationic Drugs Although drug interactions for metformin with cationic drugs (e.g., amiloride, digoxin, morphine, procainamide, quinidine, quinine, ranitidine, triamterene, trimethoprim, and vancomycin) remain theoretical (except for cimetidine), careful patient monitoring and dose adjustment of AVANDAMET and/or the interfering drug is recommended in patients who are taking cationic medications that are excreted via the proximal renal tubular secretory system.
Mechanism: These medications compete for the same disposal path in the kidneys, which could potentially affect how they are cleared from your body.
What to do: Your healthcare provider should watch you carefully and might adjust your dosage if necessary.
[See Clinical Pharmacology (12.4).] 7.2 Cationic Drugs Although drug interactions for metformin with cationic drugs (e.g., amiloride, digoxin, morphine, procainamide, quinidine, quinine, ranitidine, triamterene, trimethoprim, and vancomycin) remain theoretical (except for cimetidine), careful patient monitoring and dose adjustment of AVANDAMET and/or the interfering drug is recommended in patients who are taking cationic medications that are excreted via the proximal renal tubular secretory system.
Mechanism: These drugs are both removed by the kidneys using the same transport system, which could lead to higher levels of the medicine in your blood.
What to do: Your doctor may need to monitor your response and adjust your doses while you are taking both drugs.
Common Questions
Can I take Avandamet if I have heart problems?
Will Avandamet cause weight gain?
Can Avandamet affect my kidneys?
Can I drink alcohol while taking Avandamet?
What should I do if I experience swelling in my legs or ankles?
Is it safe to take Avandamet with insulin?
Can Avandamet cause low blood sugar?
What are the symptoms of lactic acidosis?
Can Avandamet cause anemia?
Are there any vision changes I should watch out for?
What are the common side effects of rosiglitazone?
Does rosiglitazone interact with other medications?
What drug class is rosiglitazone?
Is rosiglitazone safe during pregnancy?
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What the FDA Data Shows for rosiglitazone
The FDA label for rosiglitazone (sold under brand names such as Avandia) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Thiazolidinedione class. Avandamet is used to help control blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. Official labeling lists 6 commonly reported side effects, including Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. Voluntary reports accumulate over the lifetime of a drug and reflect wide-ranging clinical use. The database also lists 12 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated major severity. Acquisition-cost data is surveyed weekly by CMS and updated as manufacturers report changes.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: August 30, 2012
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages