Avandia

Avandia belongs to a group of drugs that lower high blood sugar levels (anti-diabetic) called thiazolidinediones.

Avandia is used in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes (non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus).

It may be used in patients inadequately controlled by diet and exercise and in combination with sulphonylureas and metformin (other blood glucose lowering agents) or insulin to improve blood glucose levels.

Avandia may be used alone or with other diabetes medicines.

Avandia can help your body respond better to insulin made in your body.

Avandia works differently than some other diabetes medicines. It does not cause your body to make more insulin. Instead, Avandia helps your body use its own natural insulin better for improved blood sugar control.

Since 2002, Avandia has been used by nearly 5 million people with type 2 diabetes. It is the most studied medicine for type 2 diabetes.

Recommendations

Follow the directions for using this medicine provided by your doctor. Take Avandia exactly as directed.

Your doctor will tell you how many tablets to take and how often. The usual daily starting dose is 4 mg a day taken one time each day or 2 mg taken two times each day. Your doctor may need to adjust your dose until your blood sugar is better controlled.

Avandia may be prescribed alone or with other diabetes medicines. This will depend on how well your blood sugar is controlled.

Take Avandia with or without food.

It can take 2 weeks for Avandia to start lowering blood sugar. It may take 2 to 3 months to see the full effect on your blood sugar level.

If you miss a dose of Avandia, take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take your next dose. Take your next dose at the usual time. Do not take double doses to make up for a missed dose.

Test your blood sugar regularly as your doctor tells you.

Diet and exercise can help your body use its blood sugar better. It is important to stay on your recommended diet, lose extra weight, and get regular exercise while taking Avandia.

Precautions

Tell your doctor before taking Avandia, if you:

Have heart failure or other heart problems, or are on any medicines for high blood pressure, high cholesterol or heart failure, or for prevention of heart disease or stroke
Take insulin or nitrate medicines
Have a type of diabetic eye disease called macular edema
Have liver problems
Are pregnant or breast-feeding

Ingredients

Active ingredient: rosiglitazone maleate.