Side Effects Of Pioglitazone

NHS medicines information on side effects of pioglitazone and what you can do to cope.

Like all medicines, pioglitazone can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them.

Common side effects

These common side effects of pioglitazone happen in more than 1 in 100 people. There are things you can do to help cope with them:

Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if the advice on how to cope does not help and a side effect is still bothering you or does not go away.

Serious side effects

Some people may have serious side effects after taking pioglitazone.

Call your doctor or call 111 now if:

• the whites of your eyes turn yellow, or your skin turns yellow although this may be less obvious on brown or black skin - these can be signs of a liver problem
• you put on weight quickly, your arms, legs or stomach are swollen, and you have problems breathing - these can be signs of heart failure
• there's blood in your pee and you have problems peeing or need to pee urgently - these can be signs of bladder cancer

You're also at greater risk of breaking a bone when taking pioglitazone, particularly if you are a woman. If you're treated for a broken bone or fracture, let your doctor know as soon as possible afterwards.

Low blood sugar

Pioglitazone does not usually cause low blood sugar (known as hypoglycaemia, or "hypos") when taken on its own.

But hypos can happen when you take pioglitazone with other diabetes medicines such as insulin or gliclazide.

Early warning signs of low blood sugar include:

• feeling hungry
• trembling or shaking
• sweating
• confusion
• difficulty concentrating

It's also possible for your blood sugar to go too low while you're asleep. If this happens, it can make you feel sweaty, tired and confused when you wake up.

Low blood sugar may happen if you:

• take too much of some types of diabetes medicines
• do not eat meals regularly, or skip meals
• are fasting
• do not eat a healthy diet and are not getting enough nutrients
• change what you eat
• increase your physical activity without eating more to compensate
• drink alcohol, especially after skipping a meal
• take some other medicines or herbal remedies at the same time
• have a hormone disorder such as an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
• have kidney or liver problems

To prevent hypos, it's important to have regular meals, including breakfast. Never miss or delay a meal.

If you're planning to exercise more than usual, make sure you eat carbohydrates like bread, pasta or cereals before, during or after exercise.

Always carry a fast-acting carbohydrate with you, like sugar cubes, fruit juice or some sweets, in case your blood sugar level gets low. Artificial sweeteners will not help.

You may also need to eat a starchy carbohydrate, like a sandwich or a biscuit, to maintain your blood sugar for longer.

If taking in sugar does not help or if the hypo symptoms come back, contact your doctor or the nearest hospital.

Make sure your friends and family know about your diabetes and the symptoms of low blood sugar levels so they can recognise a hypo if it happens.

Serious allergic reaction

It's possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to pioglitazone.

Long-term side effects

Pioglitazone is usually safe to take for a long time. Your doctor will give you regular tests to check whether it's OK for you to continue taking it.

If you're over 65 you're slightly more likely to get some side effects of pioglitazone, such as heart failure.

Other side effects

These are not all the side effects of pioglitazone. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicines packet.

If you want to find out more about this particular topic you can visit the Original article on the NHS website. If you are worried by any aspect of your health make sure you go and see your doctor or book an appointment at your local clinic.