About ACTOplus met

ACTOplus met, cholesterol, and blood fats (triglycerides)

Low levels of HDL (good) cholesterol and high levels of triglycerides are often associated with type 2 diabetes. Cholesterol is a fatty substance that can be found in the body. The body needs cholesterol for making hormones and building cell walls. This combination of low HDL and high triglyceride levels can lead to health problems.

Fats in the blood

There are three main types of fat in your blood:

  • LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol is known as the “bad cholesterol” because it is the main source of harmful fatty buildup in blood vessels.
  • HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol is often called “good cholesterol” because it helps prevent cholesterol buildup in blood vessels by carrying cholesterol back to the liver, where it can be eliminated.
  • Triglycerides are a form of fat carried through the bloodstream.

While ACTOplus met may provide some lipid benefits, ACTOplus met is not intended as a substitute for cholesterol medications. The effect of these lipid changes has not been determined.

ACTOplus met has a positive change on HDL cholesterol and triglycerides

ACTOS—one of the two prescription medications in ACTOplus met—may have a positive change on HDL (good) cholesterol and triglycerides (blood fats) without consistent changes in LDL (bad) cholesterol or total cholesterol in patients with type 2 diabetes. ACTOS has been shown to:

  • Increase HDL cholesterol.
  • Decrease triglycerides.
  • Have no consistent effect on LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol.

If you have high cholesterol, you should ask your doctor what steps you can take to lower it. These may include:

  • Changing eating habits to reduce intake of dietary saturated fat.
  • Being more physically active.
  • Maintaining your proper weight.

Your doctor may also prescribe a cholesterol-lowering medication in addition to these healthy lifestyle habits. ACTOplus met is not intended to treat lipid disorders.

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

Management of type 2 diabetes should also include nutritional counseling, weight reduction as needed, and exercise.

The major underlying problems in type 2 diabetes are insulin resistance in muscle and fat, decreased insulin production by the pancreas, and increased sugar production by the liver. Other concerns include lipid problems, such as increased triglyceride levels (blood fats), low levels of HDL (good cholesterol), and high levels of LDL (bad cholesterol). Gastrointestinal (stomach) and kidney function are additional considerations.

There have been no clinical studies showing a decline in the risk of macrovascular disease with ACTOplus met.

Next: Is ACTOplus met right for you?

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.

ACTOplus met is a prescription medication used with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar (glucose) control in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Duetact is a prescription medication used with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar (glucose) control in adults with type 2 diabetes.

ACTOS, ACTOplus met, and duetact are not for patients with type 1 “juvenile” diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis.

ACTOS, ACTOplus met, and duetact have not been studied in children and are not recommended for children under the age of 18.

Important Safety Information
ACTOS, ACTOplus met, and duetact are not for everyone. Certain patients with heart failure should not start taking ACTOS, ACTOplus met, or duetact. ACTOS, ACTOplus met, and duetact can cause new, or worsen, heart failure. Talk to your doctor immediately if you experience unusually fast weight gain, fluid retention (swelling), shortness of breath, unusual tiredness, or slow heartbeat.

Warnings Specific to ACTOplus met
Metformin, one of the medicines in ACTOplus met, 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 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 should not be taken by people with metabolic acidosis.

ACTOplus met should not be taken by people 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.

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.

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 your red blood cells to be destroyed too quickly.

Do not take ACTOS, ACTOplus met, or duetact if you have active liver disease. Your doctor should perform a blood test to check for liver problems before you start ACTOS, ACTOplus met, or duetact and periodically thereafter. Talk to your doctor immediately if you experience nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, unusual tiredness, loss of appetite, dark urine, or yellowing of the skin or eyes.

If you are of childbearing age, talk to your doctor before taking ACTOS, ACTOplus met, or duetact, as this could increase your chance of becoming pregnant. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to breastfeed.

Some people taking ACTOS, ACTOplus met, or duetact may experience flulike symptoms, mild-to-moderate swelling of legs and ankles, anemia, and weight gain.

ACTOS may cause low blood sugar when taken in combination with insulin or sulfonylureas. 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.

Patients with diabetes should have regular eye exams. If you experience vision problems, consult your doctor immediately. Some patients have experienced visual changes while taking ACTOS, ACTOplus met, or duetact.

Some people, particularly women, are at higher risk of having bone fractures while taking pioglitazone.

Other side effects of ACTOS may include cold-like symptoms, headache, sinus infection, muscle pain, tooth disorder, and sore throat.

Other side effects of ACTOplus met may include cold-like symptoms, diarrhea, nausea, headache, urinary tract infection, dizziness, sinus infection, and anemia.

Other side effects of duetact may include cold-like symptoms, headache, urinary tract infection, diarrhea, nausea, and limb pain.

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 boxed warning and Medication Guide.
Please see ACTOplus met Complete Prescribing Information, including boxed warnings and Medication Guide.
Please see duetact Complete Prescribing Information, including boxed warning and Medication Guide.
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