What is the most important information I should know about alogliptin and pioglitazone?
You should not use this medicine if you have severe or uncontrolled heart failure, active bladder cancer, or diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment).
This medicine can cause or worsen congestive heart failure. Call your doctor at once if you have shortness of breath (even with mild exertion), swelling, or rapid weight gain.
Stop taking this medicine and call your doctor right away if you have symptoms of pancreatitis: nausea or vomiting, and upper stomach pain (that may spread to your back).
What is alogliptin and pioglitazone?
Alogliptin and pioglitazone is a combination medicine used together with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This medicine is not for treating type 1 diabetes.
Alogliptin and pioglitazone may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking alogliptin and pioglitazone?
You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to alogliptin and pioglitazone, or if you have:
- severe or uncontrolled heart failure;
- active bladder cancer; or
- diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment).
Pioglitazone may increase your risk of serious heart problems. However, not treating your diabetes can damage your heart and other organs. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking alogliptin and pioglitazone.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- heart failure;
- liver disease;
- kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis);
- eye problems caused by diabetes;
- pancreatitis; or
- bladder cancer.
This medicine may increase your risk of developing bladder cancer. Talk with your doctor about your specific risk.
Women may be more likely to have a broken bone while taking alogliptin and pioglitazone. Talk with your doctor about ways to keep your bones healthy.
Follow your doctor's instructions about using this medicine if you are pregnant or you become pregnant. Controlling diabetes is very important during pregnancy, and having high blood sugar may cause complications in both the mother and the baby.
Pioglitazone may cause you to ovulate and get pregnant, even if you are premenopausal or do not have regular periods. Talk with your doctor about the need for birth control.
It may not be safe to breast-feed a baby while you are using this medicine. Ask your doctor about any risks.
This medicine is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.
How should I take alogliptin and pioglitazone?
Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.
You may take this medicine with or without food.
Do not break an alogliptin and pioglitazone tablet. Swallow it whole.
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can happen to everyone who has diabetes. Symptoms include headache, hunger, sweating, irritability, dizziness, nausea, fast heart rate, and feeling anxious or shaky. To quickly treat low blood sugar, always keep a fast-acting source of sugar with you such as fruit juice, hard candy, crackers, raisins, or non-diet soda.
Your doctor can prescribe a glucagon emergency injection kit to use in case you have severe hypoglycemia and cannot eat or drink. Be sure your family and close friends know how to give you this injection in an emergency.
Blood sugar levels can be affected by stress, illness, surgery, exercise, alcohol use, or skipping meals. Ask your doctor before changing your dose or medication schedule.
Alogliptin and pioglitazone is only part of a complete treatment program that may also include diet, exercise, weight control, regular blood sugar testing, and special medical care. Follow your doctor's instructions very closely.
Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
What should I avoid while taking alogliptin and pioglitazone?
Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.
What are the possible side effects of alogliptin and pioglitazone?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning in your eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling).
Stop taking this medicine and call your doctor right away if you have symptoms of pancreatitis: nausea or vomiting, and upper stomach pain (that may spread to your back).
Call your doctor at once if you have:
-
a severe autoimmune reaction --itching, blisters, breakdown of the outer layer of skin;
- severe or ongoing pain in your joints;
- pink or red urine, burning when you urinate, new or worsening urge to urinate;
- changes in your vision;
-
liver problems --upper stomach pain, vomiting, tiredness, loss of appetite, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
-
symptoms of heart failure --shortness of breath (even while lying down), swelling in your legs or feet, rapid weight gain.
Common side effects may include:
- back pain; or
- cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sinus pain, sore throat.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect alogliptin and pioglitazone?
Tell your doctor if you use insulin. Taking alogliptin and pioglitazone while you are using insulin may increase your risk of serious heart problems.
Other drugs may increase or decrease the effects of alogliptin and pioglitazone on lowering your blood sugar. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about alogliptin and pioglitazone.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2020 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 2.02. Revision date: 3/31/2020.
