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Re: Actos
From: Lara (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Mon, 13 Jan 2003 12:55:14 -0600 (CST)
Sue thanks so much for all that info - will have to give Actos a try as
metformin did not work for me
At Thu, 9 Jan 2003, Sue wrote:
>
>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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