I have known one person in real life to take Actos, and it didn't do anything
for her. I'm sorry I wasn't able to help.
--
Victoria
From: anonymous@obgyn.net (Tracy)
I had been put on 45 mg of Actos and 1500 mg. Glucophage back in early
2001 for PCOS and type 2 diabetes. After a 50 pound weight loss and
significant lifestyle change, I was able to reduce the glucophage to
1000 mg of the XR formula, and the actos to 30 mg.
I started having serious side effects from the actos. Very serious
fluid retention in my lower legs, face, and stomach, and chronic
coughing and sinus trouble. The doctor lowered me to 15 mg, and my
blood sugar has held steady in tight control, but the side effects came
back after a month on the lower dose.
I am just not going to be able to tolerate the actos anymore at any
dose. My doctor will probably increase my glucophage to 1500 mg for
now, at least until I get some more weight off and the sugars are yet
even more easier to control. The doctor prefers a smaller dose of the
two drugs combined more than a larger dose of either. He says they work
best together.
Well, that may all be well and true, but I cannot live with swelling and
constant coughing and postnasal drip anymore. The only alternative is
diuretics and cold/sinus medication to manage the side effects of the
actos, and I refuse to take two drugs to control the side effects of
another. It's just too much medication.
Has anybody else had these side effects with actos? Has anybody else had
hair loss? I started seeing more thinning on my head when I added the
actos to my treatment plan. The doctor said it is probably not related
to actos but rather just general PCOS or thyroid disease related hair
loss, but I am not sure. I never lost hair like this before, why now,
why after the actos and not before?
Anyway, I am hoping to be off of it by the end of the month, it is just
not working out for me. Too bad, I had really good blood sugar control
and my PCOS symptoms were all really well controlled. But frankly, I'd
rather have to eat more restrictively and exercise more frequently and
just deal with slightly worse PCOS symptoms than suffer the side effects
of actos.
--
Tracy
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