This medication description is not meant for treatment prescription without the intervention of a specialist.

Common Uses

Avandia is a thiazolidinedione antidiabetic. It lowers blood sugar by making the cells of the body more sensitive to the action of insulin. It is used for treating type 2 diabetes in certain patients. It is used along with diet and exercise. It may be used alone or with other antidiabetic medicines.

How to Take

Adults - At first, the dose is 4 mg once a day or 2 mg twice a day. After 8 to 12 weeks, the dose may be increased to 8 mg once a day or 4 mg twice a day. Children - Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Warning and Precautions

Avandia may cause dizziness. This effect may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Avandia with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it. Carry an ID card at all times that says you have diabetes.

Proper diet and exercise are important for best results with Avandia. Follow the diet and exercise program given to you by your health care provider.

It may take 2 weeks for Avandia to start to lower your blood sugar. It may take up to 3 months to see the full effect of Avandia. If your symptoms do not get better within 2 weeks or if they get worse, check with your doctor.

Check your blood sugar levels as directed by your doctor. If they are often higher than they should be and you take Avandia exactly as prescribed, tell your doctor.

It may be harder to control your blood sugar during times of stress such as fever, infection, injury, or surgery. Talk with your doctor about how to control your blood sugar if any of these occur. Do not change the dose of your medicine without checking with your doctor.

Missed Dose

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Overdose

Although there is no information on the potential results of Avandia overdose, any medication taken in excess can have serious consequences. If you suspect an overdose, seek medical attention immediately.

Storage

Store Avandia at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C). Brief storage at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Do not store Avandia in the bathroom. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Keep out of the reach of children and away from pets.

Possible Side Effects

Common side effects: headache; weight gain, severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); blurred vision or other vision changes; chest pain; fainting; numbness of an arm or leg; severe headache, stomach pain, or vomiting; symptoms of heart failure (eg, shortness of breath; sudden unexplained weight gain; swelling of the hands, ankles, or feet); symptoms of liver problems (eg, dark urine; yellowing of the skin or eyes; unexplained nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite; stomach pain); symptoms of low blood sugar (eg, anxiety, increased sweating, dizziness or drowsiness, headache, chills, tremors, increased hunger); unusual bone pain; unusual tiredness or weakness. Seek medical attention right away if any of these side effects occur.

More Information

The information given above is a summary. Your pharmacist can provide more information about Avandia. Do not share this medicine with others for whom it was not prescribed. Do not use this medicine for other health conditions. If using this medicine for an extended period of time, obtain refills before your supply runs out.