Talk to your doctor about whether ACTOS may be right for you

Is your premeal blood sugar level consistently above
130 mg/dL?
Yes
No
Are you having problems managing your type 2 diabetes with healthy eating and exercise?
Yes
No
Are you having problems managing your type 2 diabetes with your current treatment plan?
Yes
No
Do you prefer taking a prescription medication only once a day?
Yes
No

If you have type 2 diabetes and answered yes to any of these questions, ask your doctor if ACTOS is right for you. Remember, only your doctor can determine the best treatment for you. Click below to print your results for discussion with your doctor.

Did you know ACTOS can be added to other type 2 diabetes medications?

Some people may need another medication to help lower their blood sugar. ACTOplus met and ACTOplus met XR combine ACTOS and metformin into one tablet. Duetact combines ACTOS and a sulfonylurea into one tablet. When taking ACTOS with insulin or other diabetes medications, especially sulfonylureas, low blood sugar may occur. Talk to your doctor if low blood sugar is a problem for you. When taking ACTOS with insulin, the chance of fluid retention is increased, which may lead to or worsen heart failure. You should tell your doctor right away if you develop fluid retention, especially in the ankles or legs. Learn more about ACTOplus met, ACTOplus met XR, and duetact.

Please see Important Safety Information, including warnings about heart failure and lactic acidosis, below.

Your results!

Talk to your doctor about whether ACTOS may be right for you

If you have type 2 diabetes and answered yes to any of these questions, ask your doctor if ACTOS is right for you. Remember, only your doctor can determine the best treatment for you.

Take this sheet to your doctor to discuss your survey results and treatment plan.

Yes
No
 Is your premeal blood sugar level consistently above
130 mg/dL?
Yes
No
 Are you having problems managing your type 2 diabetes
with healthy eating and exercise?
Yes
No
 Are you having problems managing your type 2 diabetes
with your current treatment plan?
Yes
No
 Do you prefer taking a prescription medication only once
a day?

Indications and usage

ACTOS is a prescription medication used with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar (glucose) control in adults with type 2 diabetes. They are not for patients with type 1 "juvenile" diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis.

Important Safety Information

Warning: Heart Failure

ACTOS is not for everyone. ACTOS can cause or worsen heart failure. Heart failure means your heart does not pump blood well enough. Talk to your doctor immediately if you experience unusually fast weight gain, fluid retention (swelling), shortness of breath, or unusual tiredness. Certain patients with symptoms of heart failure should not start taking ACTOS. Do not take ACTOS if you have severe heart failure.

Do not take ACTOS if you are allergic to any of its ingredients.

ACTOS may cause liver problems. Talk to your doctor immediately if you experience unexplained nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, unusual tiredness, loss of appetite, dark urine, or yellowing of the skin or eyes as these could be symptoms of liver damage.

Women are at higher risk of having broken bones (fractures) while taking ACTOS.

There may be an increased chance of having bladder cancer when you take ACTOS. You should not take ACTOS if you are receiving treatment for bladder cancer. Tell your doctor right away if you have a blood or a red color in your urine, have an increased need to urinate, or have pain while you urinate as these may be symptoms of bladder cancer.

When taking ACTOS with insulin or other anti-diabetic medications (especially sulfonylureas), hypoglycemia may occur. Lightheadedness, shakiness, dizziness, or hunger may mean that your blood sugar is too low. Talk to your doctor if low blood sugar is a problem for you.

Some patients have experienced visual changes while taking ACTOS. If you experience vision problems, consult your doctor immediately. Have your eyes checked regularly.

If you are of childbearing age, but do not have regular monthly periods, talk to your doctor before taking ACTOS, as it could increase your chance of becoming pregnant.

The most common side effects of ACTOS include cold-like symptoms, headache, sinus infection, muscle pain, and sore throat.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines, vitamins, and supplements you take. ACTOS and some other medicines can affect each other. You may need to have your dose of ACTOS or certain other medicines changed.

It is not known if ACTOS can harm an unborn, or nursing, baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to breastfeed.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see Complete Prescribing Information, including warning about heart failure, and Medication Guide available by clicking the Print Prescribing Information or Print Medication Guide buttons on this website.

Indications and Usage

ACTOS, ACTOplus met, ACTOplus met XR, and duetact are prescription medications used with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar (glucose) control in adults with type 2 diabetes. They are not for patients with type 1 "juvenile" diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis.

Important Safety Information

Warning: Heart Failure

ACTOS, ACTOplus met, ACTOplus met XR, and duetact are not for everyone. These medications can cause or worsen heart failure. Heart failure means your heart does not pump blood well enough. Talk to your doctor immediately if you experience unusually fast weight gain, fluid retention (swelling), shortness of breath, or unusual tiredness. Certain patients with symptoms of heart failure should not start taking ACTOS, ACTOplus met, ACTOplus met XR, or duetact. Do not take these medications if you have severe heart failure.

Warning: Lactic Acidosis Specific to ACTOplus met and ACTOplus met XR

Metformin, one of the medicines in ACTOplus met and ACTOplus met XR, can cause a rare but serious condition called lactic acidosis (a buildup of an acid in the blood) that can cause death. Lactic acidosis is a medical emergency and must be treated in the hospital. Because lactic acidosis occurs most frequently in people with kidney problems, ACTOplus met and ACTOplus met XR should not be used in people with kidney disease or in people 80 years of age or older whose kidneys do not work properly. ACTOplus met and ACTOplus met XR should not be taken by people with metabolic acidosis or who drink excessive amounts of alcohol.

Talk to your doctor if you are going to have an X-ray procedure using injectable dye and are taking ACTOplus met and ACTOplus met XR.

Do not take ACTOS, ACTOplus met, ACTOplus met XR, or duetact if you are allergic to any of their ingredients.

Warning Specific to duetact: The chance of death from serious heart or blood vessel problems may be higher when using a sulfonylurea, an ingredient in duetact.

ACTOS, ACTOplus met, ACTOplus met XR, and duetact may cause liver problems. Talk to your doctor immediately if you experience unexplained nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, unusual tiredness, loss of appetite, dark urine, or yellowing of the skin or eyes as these could be symptoms of liver damage.

Women are at higher risk of having broken bones (fractures) while taking ACTOS, ACTOplus met, ACTOplus met XR, or duetact.

There may be an increased chance of having bladder cancer when you take ACTOS, ACTOplus met, ACTOplus met XR, or duetact. You should not take these medications if you are receiving treatment for bladder cancer. Tell your doctor right away if you have blood or a red color in your urine, have an increased need to urinate, or have pain while you urinate as these may be symptoms of bladder cancer.

Hypoglycemia may occur when taking anti-diabetic medications. Lightheadedness, shakiness, dizziness, or hunger may mean that your blood sugar is too low. Talk to your doctor if low blood sugar is a problem for you.

Some patients have experienced visual changes while taking ACTOS, ACTOplus met, ACTOplus met XR, or duetact. If you experience vision problems, consult your doctor immediately. Have your eyes checked regularly.

If you are of childbearing age, but do not have regular monthly periods, talk to your doctor before taking ACTOS, ACTOplus met, ACTOplus met XR, or duetact, as they could increase your chance of becoming pregnant.

Precaution Specific to duetact: Taking glimepiride along with having an inherited condition where you don’t produce enough of the enzyme G6PD (G6PD deficiency) can cause hemolytic anemia, which causes red blood cells to be destroyed too quickly.

The most common side effects of these products include:

  • ACTOS: cold-like symptoms, headache, sinus infection, muscle pain, and sore throat
  • ACTOplus met and ACTOplus met XR: cold or flu-like symptoms, diarrhea, nausea, headache, urinary tract infection, dizziness, and sinus infection
  • duetact: cold or flu-like symptoms, headache, urinary tract infection, diarrhea, nausea, and limb pain

Tell your doctor about all the medicines, vitamins, and supplements you take. Some medicines can affect each other. You may need to have your doses of certain medicines changed.

It is not known if ACTOS, ACTOplus met, ACTOplus met XR, or duetact can harm an unborn or nursing baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to breastfeed.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see ACTOS Complete Prescribing Information, including warning about heart failure, and Medication Guide.

Please see ACTOplus met Complete Prescribing Information, including warnings about heart failure and lactic acidosis, and Medication Guide.

Please see ACTOplus met XR Complete Prescribing Information, including warnings about heart failure and lactic acidosis, and Medication Guide.

Please see duetact Complete Prescribing Information, including warning about heart failure, and Medication Guide.

Copyright ©1999, 2011 Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc.

This site is intended for use by U.S. residents only.
ACTOS, ACTOplus met, ACTOplus met XR, and duetact are trademarks of
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited registered with the U.S. Patent and
Trademark Office and used under license by Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.

Important Safety Information

Warning: Heart Failure

ACTOS, ACTOplus met, ACTOplus met XR, and duetact are not for everyone. These medications can cause or worsen heart failure. Heart failure means your heart does not pump blood well enough. Talk to your doctor immediately if you experience unusually fast weight gain, fluid retention (swelling), shortness of breath, or unusual tiredness. Certain patients with symptoms of heart failure should not start taking ACTOS, ACTOplus met, ACTOplus met XR, or duetact. Do not take these medications if you have severe heart failure.

Warning: Lactic Acidosis Specific to ACTOplus met and ACTOplus met XR

Metformin, one of the medicines in ACTOplus met and ACTOplus met XR, can cause a rare but serious condition called lactic acidosis (a buildup of an acid in the blood) that can cause death. Lactic acidosis is a medical emergency and must be treated in the hospital. Because lactic acidosis occurs most frequently in people with kidney problems, ACTOplus met and ACTOplus met XR should not be used in people with kidney disease or in people 80 years of age or older whose kidneys do not work properly. ACTOplus met and ACTOplus met XR should not be taken by people with metabolic acidosis or who drink excessive amounts of alcohol.

Talk to your doctor if you are going to have an X-ray procedure using injectable dye and are taking ACTOplus met and ACTOplus met XR.

Do not take ACTOS, ACTOplus met, ACTOplus met XR, or duetact if you are allergic to any of their ingredients.

Warning Specific to duetact: The chance of death from serious heart or blood vessel problems may be higher when using a sulfonylurea, an ingredient in duetact.

ACTOS, ACTOplus met, ACTOplus met XR, and duetact may cause liver problems. Talk to your doctor immediately if you experience unexplained nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, unusual tiredness, loss of appetite, dark urine, or yellowing of the skin or eyes as these could be symptoms of liver damage.

Women are at higher risk of having broken bones (fractures) while taking ACTOS, ACTOplus met, ACTOplus met XR, or duetact.

There may be an increased chance of having bladder cancer when you take ACTOS, ACTOplus met, ACTOplus met XR, or duetact. You should not take these medications if you are receiving treatment for bladder cancer. Tell your doctor right away if you have blood or a red color in your urine, have an increased need to urinate, or have pain while you urinate as these may be symptoms of bladder cancer.

Hypoglycemia may occur when taking anti-diabetic medications. Lightheadedness, shakiness, dizziness, or hunger may mean that your blood sugar is too low. Talk to your doctor if low blood sugar is a problem for you.

Some patients have experienced visual changes while taking ACTOS, ACTOplus met, ACTOplus met XR, or duetact. If you experience vision problems, consult your doctor immediately. Have your eyes checked regularly.

If you are of childbearing age, but do not have regular monthly periods, talk to your doctor before taking ACTOS, ACTOplus met, ACTOplus met XR, or duetact, as they could increase your chance of becoming pregnant.

Precaution Specific to duetact: Taking glimepiride along with having an inherited condition where you don’t produce enough of the enzyme G6PD (G6PD deficiency) can cause hemolytic anemia, which causes red blood cells to be destroyed too quickly.

The most common side effects of these products include:

  • ACTOS: cold-like symptoms, headache, sinus infection, muscle pain, and sore throat
  • ACTOplus met and ACTOplus met XR: cold or flu-like symptoms, diarrhea, nausea, headache, urinary tract infection, dizziness, and sinus infection
  • duetact: cold or flu-like symptoms, headache, urinary tract infection, diarrhea, nausea, and limb pain

Tell your doctor about all the medicines, vitamins, and supplements you take. Some medicines can affect each other. You may need to have your doses of certain medicines changed.

It is not known if ACTOS, ACTOplus met, ACTOplus met XR, or duetact can harm an unborn or nursing baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to breastfeed.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see ACTOS Complete Prescribing Information, including warning about heart failure, and Medication Guide.

Please see ACTOplus met Complete Prescribing Information, including warnings about heart failure and lactic acidosis, and Medication Guide.

Please see ACTOplus met XR Complete Prescribing Information, including warnings about heart failure and lactic acidosis, and Medication Guide.

Please see duetact Complete Prescribing Information, including warning about heart failure, and Medication Guide.

Indications and Usage

ACTOS, ACTOplus met, ACTOplus met XR, and duetact are prescription medications used with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar (glucose) control in adults with type 2 diabetes. They are not for patients with type 1 "juvenile" diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis.