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Avandia

  • Generic Name: rosiglitazone maleate
  • Brand Name: Avandia

side effects drug center avandia (rosiglitazone maleate) drug - patient side effects and images

 

PROFESSIONAL

CONSUMER

SIDE EFFECTS

Avandia Patient Information Including Side Effects

Brand Names: Avandia

Generic Name: rosiglitazone

What is rosiglitazone (Avandia)?

Rosiglitazone is used together with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Rosiglitazone is not for treating type 1 diabetes.

Rosiglitazone may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What are the possible side effects of rosiglitazone (Avandia)?

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction (hives, itching, dizziness, rapid heartbeats, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling).

Stop using rosiglitazone and call your doctor at once if you have symptoms of liver damage: nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Call your doctor at once if you have:

  • shortness of breath (especially when lying down), unusual tiredness, swelling, rapid weight gain;
  • chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, nausea, sweating;
  • pale skin, feeling light-headed or short of breath, cold hands and feet;
  • changes in your vision; or
  • sudden unusual pain in your hand, arm, or foot.

Common side effects may include:

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What is the most important information I should know about rosiglitazone (Avandia)?

Rosiglitazone can cause or worsen congestive heart failure. You should not use this medicine if you have severe or uncontrolled heart failure.

Stop using this medicine and call your doctor at once if you have shortness of breath (especially when lying down), unusual tiredness, swelling, or rapid weight gain.

Avandia Patient Information including How Should I Take

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking rosiglitazone (Avandia)?

You should not use rosiglitazone if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

Rosiglitazone may increase your risk of serious heart problems, but not treating your diabetes can also damage your heart and other organs. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of this medicine.

Follow your doctor's instructions about using this medicine if you are pregnant or you become pregnant. Controlling diabetes is very important during pregnancy, and having high blood sugar may cause complications in both the mother and the baby.

Rosiglitazone may stimulate ovulation in a premenopausal woman and may increase the risk of unintended pregnancy. Talk to your doctor about your risk.

Women may be more likely to have a broken bone while using rosiglitazone. Talk with your doctor about ways to keep your bones healthy.

You should not breastfeed while using rosiglitazone.

Rosiglitazone is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

How should I take rosiglitazone (Avandia)?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

You may take rosiglitazone with or without food.

You may have low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and feel very hungry, dizzy, irritable, confused, anxious, or shaky. To quickly treat hypoglycemia, eat or drink a fast-acting source of sugar (fruit juice, hard candy, crackers, raisins, or non-diet soda).

Your doctor may prescribe a glucagon injection kit in case you have severe hypoglycemia. Be sure your family or close friends know how to give you this injection in an emergency.

Blood sugar levels can be affected by stress, illness, surgery, exercise, alcohol use, or skipping meals. Ask your doctor before changing your dose or medication schedule.

It may take up to 2 weeks before your blood sugar levels start to improve. Keep using the medication as directed and tell your doctor if your levels do not improve within 2 or 3 months.

Rosiglitazone is only part of a treatment program that may also include diet, exercise, weight control, blood sugar testing, and special medical care. Follow your doctor's instructions very closely.

Store this medicine in the original bottle at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.

Avandia Patient Information including If I Miss a Dose

What happens if I miss a dose (Avandia)?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose (Avandia)?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. You may have signs of low blood sugar, such as extreme weakness, blurred vision, sweating, trouble speaking, tremors, stomach pain, confusion, and seizure (convulsions).

What should I avoid while taking rosiglitazone (Avandia)?

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.

What other drugs will affect rosiglitazone (Avandia)?

Tell your doctor if you use insulin. Taking rosiglitazone while you are using insulin may increase your risk of serious heart problems.

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines. Many drugs can affect rosiglitazone, especially:

  • blood pressure medications
  • cholesterol medication; or
  • heart medication.

This list is not complete and many other drugs may affect rosiglitazone. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Where can I get more information (Avandia)?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about rosiglitazone.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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