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Re: ActosFrom: Sue (anonymous@obgyn.net)Thu, 9 Jan 2003 09:11:50 -0600 (CST)
Actos is an insulin sensitizer of the "glitazone" family--its chemical name is pioglitzone. It works similarly to metformin in that it sensitizes your body to the insulin you're already overproducing and makes your body use it more effectively, except that it doesn't have the nasty side effects that met can have for some people (gastro upset, etc.). It is not metabolised as met is (met is processed by the kidneys and lungs [via respiration]), it is processed by the liver, so a baseline hepatic function test should be run prior to taking the medication and then tests every 3 mos. for 1 year thereafter should be done to insure that liver enzymes are where they should be. Research indicates that if you're going to have a reaction to a glitzone drug, it will most likely be in the first year, so a RE might do a hepatic panel once per year after the initial year of treatment. Actos comes in 15, 30, and 45 mg tablets and is taken once per day. It doesn't have the beneficial side effect of weight loss that many see with met, but it can happen--I'm on 30 mg and I just have to be more conscientious about exercise than I had to be while on met. But weight can come off while using this medication. I've probably given you way more information that you were asking for, but that is what Actos is, in a nutshell. HTH --Sue
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