Product Details
What is this medicine used for?
Treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus:
- As monotherapy in patients whose hyperglycemia cannot be controlled by diet and exercise alone to decrease insulin-resistance and blood glucose levels.
 - In combination with a sulfonylurea, metformin or insulin when adequate glycemic control is not achieved by diet, exercise and monotherapy.
 
How much and how often should you use this medicine?
- Include nutritional counseling, weight reduction (as needed), and exercise in the management of type 2 diabetes.
 - Individualize antidiabetic therapy based on glycemic control and patient’s response to treatment
 - Patients should be carefully monitored for adverse reactions related to fluid retention and signs of congestive heart failure after initiation of pioglitazone or with dose increase.
 
Monotherapy
- Starting Dose in patients without Congestive Heart Failure: 15 mg or 30 mg once a day, with or without meals.
 - Starting Dose in Patients with NYHA Class I or II Congestive Heart Failure: 15 mg once a day.
 - Dosage may be titrated in increments of 15 mg up to a maximum of 45 mg once a day based on glycemic response as determined by HbA1c.
 
Combination with Metformin
- Pioglitazone in combination with metformin may be initiated at 15 mg or 30 mg once a day.
 - Continue current metformin dose when starting pioglitazone therapy.
 
Combination Therapy with Sulfonylurea
- Pioglitazone in combination with a sulfonylurea may be initiated at 15 mg or 30 mg once a day.
 - Continue current sulfonylurea dose when starting pioglitazone therapy
 - Decrease the sulfonylurea dose if patients report hypoglycemia during combination therapy
 
Combination with Insulin
- Continue current insulin dose upon starting pioglitazone therapy
 - Decrease insulin dose by 10 to 25% if the patient reports hypoglycemia or if fasting plasma glucose (FPG) decreases to below 100 mg/dL.
 - Individualize further adjustments based on the glucose-lowering response.
 
Co-administration with strong CYP2C8 Inhibitors (e.g. Gemfibrozil)
- Maximum recommended dose: 15 mg once a day
 
Availability
- Pioglitazone HCl 15 mg Tablet—box of 30’s (in blister foil by 10’s)