Medical Encyclopedia

The co-administration of Actos and oral contraceptives has not been studied profoundly, but there are at least two guidelines which should be kept in mind if you simultaneously take Actos and oral contraceptives. The first concerns the necessity for contraceptives, the other concerns the lax effect contraceptives may have when they are administered together with Actos.

Heart failure is a disease in which the heart pumps blood to the tissues inefficiently leading to reduced blood flow, its accumulation (congestion) in the veins and the lungs and other alternations in the work of the cardiac system which can further weaken the heart.

Diabetes increases the incidence of heart failure and at the same time ramps up the risk of morbidity and mortality in patients developing heart failure. Diabetic patients are known to be at risk of developing left ventricular systolic dysfunction which further leads to congestive heart failure due to two major reasons. Firstly, diabetic patients run an increased risk of suffering from coronary artery disease and sustaining an ischemic event. Secondly, they tend to develop diabetes-specific myocardial infarction which later transforms into left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Actos should not be prescribed to patients suffering from liver disease or in case of an increase in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) enzyme 2.5 times above the limit. ALT is found mainly in the liver, but increases in ALT can also be reflective of heart problems, kidney dysfunction and problems with pancreas. However, most increases in alanine aminotransferase are connected with liver damage. Taking into account the possible influence of Actos on the ALT activity in the body, it is highly recommended to measure the levels of ALT before starting Actos therapy and during the first months of taking the drug. Liver function tests are designed specifically for arming your doctor with the information about your liver and its properties. Actos therapy should not be initiated if the preliminary blood test reveals increased liver enzymes. If you know that you have active liver disease or you have experienced jaundice during troglitazone therapy, you should tell your health provider about it right away because Actos therapy can deteriorate your state.

Actos (Pioglitazone) is an anti-diabetic medication belonging to the drug class of thiazolidinediones intended to reduce the amount of glucose in the blood of a type 2 diabetes sufferer.

Actos reduces insulin resistance in peripheral tissues and in the liver thus increasing insulin-dependent glucose absorption and at the same time decreasing the liver's output of glucose. Unlike sulfonylurea medicines, commonly prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes, Actos does not stimulate insulin secretion by beta-cells of the pancreas. As an insulin sensitizer it reduces insulin resistance and thus simultaneously leads to the decrease in glucose concentration in the blood and in the amount of produced insulin in the plasma as well as the decrease in the level of glycated hemoglobin. Besides, Actos targets tissues most liable for insulin action, i.e. adipose tissue, skeletal muscle and tissues of the liver.

Drug interaction is a very delicate matter as it can be individual, revealing your individual reaction to co-administration of medications, and it can be quite typical, frequently occurring in different patients and therefore calling for special attention.

If you take Actos as your major anti-diabetic agent, it is especially important that your doctor should know what other medications you take because it may induce dose adjustment or even discontinuation of the drug.