Medication That Treats Type 2 Diabetes Who Don’t Take Insulin Injections
Metformin and Pioglitazone is a combination of two medicines. It helps to control blood sugar levels. It is beneficial for people with type 2 diabetes who don’t use insulin injection every day.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus – It is a metabolic disease that is shows high blood sugar level, insulin resistance and relative lack of insulin.
Symptoms include,
- Increased thirst.
- Frequent Urination.
- Weight loss.
- Increased hunger.
- Feeling tired.
- Sores that do not heal.
The drug includes Metformin and Pioglitazone. The two agents control or improve sugar level in these patients. It is used in combination with diet and exercise.
How does Metformin- Pioglitazone works?
The drug includes two medicines-
Metformin – It belongs to the biguanides class of medication.
- It improves glucose tolerance.
- Lowers both basal and postprandial plasma glucose.
- Decrease absorption of glucose in the intestine.
- Decrease glucose production in the liver.
- Improves insulin sensitivity by increasing peripheral glucose uptake and its utilization.
Pioglitazone: It belongs to the class of medication called as thiazolidinedione.
- It decreases insulin resistance in the periphery and in the liver.
- Increases insulin-dependent glucose disposal.
- Decreases the glucose output from the liver.
They together help to control sugar level in patient with Diabetes mellitus type-2
How to take Metformin- Pioglitazone?
The drug comes in the form of a Tablet of strength 15/500 mg.
General Dose: one or two times in a day as prescribed by your Doctor.
Children: Safety and efficacy not established.
Geriatric: Dose is same as adult. Take care in case of patient >80 years for Renal function.
Maximum dose: 45 mg of pioglitazone/2550 mg of metformin.
Take it orally around the same time every day with food. The Dosage depend on
- Your medical condition.
- Your response to the treatment.
- Other medications you take.
Your Doctor may ask you to start at a low dose and gradually increase it as needed. Keep the track of the results and show your doctor. Your dosage /treatment may need to be changed if required by your Doctor.
What are the Uses of Metformin and Pioglitazone?
- The drug treats type 2 Diabetes who don’t take insulin injections.
- Helps to control sugar level with numerous mechanism as discussed above.
- Studies indicate that the drug improves sensitivity to insulin in muscle and adipose tissue.
- Improve sugar level control and reduce circulating insulin levels.
- Controlling high blood sugar helps prevent
- Kidney damage.
- Blindness.
- Loss of limbs.
- Sexual function problems.
- Less risk of heart attack or stroke.
- Your Doctor may use it for other purposes not mentioned in the medication guide.
What are the Precautions in taking Metformin and Pioglitazone?
- It is necessary to take precautions in certain cases. Inform your doctor if you have/are
- Allergic to pioglitazone or Metformin.
- Any other allergies.
- Severe breathing problems or other lung diseases.
- Blood problems like Anemia, Vitamin B 12 deficiency.
- Kidney disease.
- Liver disease.
- Heart disease.
- Fluid in your lungs.
- Certain eye problems.
- Bladder cancer.
- This medication can cause changes in the Menstrual Cycle in Women.
- Limit use of alcohol while using this medication.
- Inform your doctor regarding surgery or x-ray/ scanning procedure using iodinated contrast.
Cost of Metformin/pioglitazone (Generic and Brand).
The cost of brand medicine increases due to the Brand name of the company. Its price also increases due to the packaging and pricing. They spend a lot of amount on the research and development of the drugs.
But the Generic drugs are cheaper than the brand ones. We order in bulk. Other several cost-cutting measures also reduce the cost of this drug. This is passed on to our customers.
Cost of Generic Metformin/pioglitazone.
Pack of 90 tablets of 15/500 mg costs $ 53.99, per unit cost is $ 0.6.
Cost of Brand Actoplus Met.
Pack of 90 tablets of 15/500 mg costs $ 992.38, per unit cost is $ 11.03.