Avandia

Drug name: Avandia

Other names used:

• Rosi®

Active Ingredients:

• Rosiglitazone maleate

Therapeutic actions: Avandia, is an antihyperglycemic agent that aides the body respond better to insulin. It reduces the amount of sugar produced by the liver, thus controlling sugar blood levels.

Indications: Avandia is used to treat type 2 diabetes and control sugar blood levels.

Contraindications and cautions: Have a discussion with your doctor prior to taking this drug. You may be required to undergo special monitoring or be given dosage adjustments if you are suffering from any of these conditions:

• Liver disease
• Heart failure or heart disease
• Edema or water retention / swelling
• Type 1 diabetes mellitus
• Serious infection, illness or injury
• Need to undergo surgery

For women not intending to get pregnant, talk with your doctor for the effective birth control method before using this medication. Avandia may cause resumption of fertility by allowing the return of ovulation in some women with insulin resistance who are not ovulating before treatment.

Inform your doctor if you happen to develop fever or infection, require surgery, or a severe injury. Such condition may lead to loss of blood sugar control and certain amount of insulin may be needed for a period of time.

Avandia is under a class of drugs labeled as FDA Pregnancy Category C. This entails that its effects to an unborn child is not certain. Have a talk with your doctor before using this drug if you are pregnant or planning to be during treatment since insulin is normally used to control diabetes in pregnant mothers.

Inform your physician if you are breastfeeding an infant as it is not known if Avandia passes into breast milk.

The effects of this drug on children has not been studied.

Adverse effects: The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

If any of the following conditions is observed, stop usage of Avandia and call your doctor for the proper medical help:

• Allergic reaction such as difficulty in breathing, closing of the throat, swelling of the lips, tongue, face, or hives
• Nausea, vomi ting, abdominal pain, or loss of appetite
• Unusual fatigue
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes
• Dark urine

Other less severe side effects would include:
- Headache
- Sore throat, nasal discharge, or cold symptoms

In any of the above case, just continue use of Avandia and notify your doctor about it.

For other side effects not found above that are particularly bothersome and unusual, seek medical advise.

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer.

Interactions: Tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are already taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start treatment with Avandia.

Additional Information: DO NOT SHARE THIS MEDICINE with others. DO NOT USE THIS MEDICINE for other health conditions. KEEP THIS PRODUCT, as well as syringes and needles, if needed during treatment, out of the reach of children. Do not reuse needles, syringes, or other materials.