Avandia - pro and contra.

Avandia: uses Avandia is an anti-diabetic drug ( thiazolidinedione-type, also called " glitazones " ) used with a proper diet and exercise program to control high blood sugar in patients with type 2 diabetes ( non-insulin-dependent diabetes ) . Avandia works by helping to restore your body's proper response to insulin, thereby lowering your blood sugar. Effectively controlling high blood sugar helps prevent heart disease, strokes, kidney disease, blindness, and circulation problems, as well as sexual function problems ( impotence ) .

Avandia is used either alone or in combination with other anti-diabetic medications ( e. g. , metformin, sulfonylureas, insulin ) .

Avandia: how to use Read Patient Information Leaflet available from your pharmacist before we start taking Avandia and each time we get a refill. If we have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Take Avandia by mouth, with or without food, usually once or twice daily, or as directed by your doctor. Dosage is based on your medical condition, response to therapy, and if we are taking other anti-diabetic drugs.

Use Avandia regularly in order to get most benefit from it. Remember to use it at the same time ( s ) each day. Monitor blood glucose levels on a regular basis.

It may take up to 2 to 3 months before full benefit of Avandia takes effect.

Take all other medications for diabetes as directed by your doctor.

Avandia: side effects See also Warning section.

Headache or cough may occur while use Avandia. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

Remember that your doctor has prescribed Avandia because he or she has judged that benefit to we is greater than risk of side effects. Many people using Avandia don't have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur:

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these highly unlikely but very serious side effects occur:

Avandia usually doesn't cause low blood sugar ( hypoglycemia ) , but this effect may occur while use Avandia if we don't consume enough calories ( from food, juices, fruit, etc. ) . The symptoms include chills, cold sweat, dizziness, drowsiness, shaking, rapid heart rate, weakness, headache, fainting, tingling of hands or feet, or hunger. It's a good habit to carry glucose tablets or gel to treat low blood sugar. If you're in a situation where you do not have these reliable forms of glucose, eat a quick source of sugar such as table sugar, honey, or candy, or drink a glass of orange juice or non-diet soda to quickly raise your blood sugar level. Tell your doctor immediately about the reaction. To help prevent hypoglycemia, eat meals on a regular schedule and don't skip meals.

Symptoms of high blood sugar ( hyperglycemia ) include thirst, increased urination, confusion, drowsiness, flushing, rapid breathing, or fruity breath odor. If these symptoms occur, tell your doctor immediately. Your medication dosage may need to be increased.

A serious allergic reaction to Avandia is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction include:

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If we notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Avandia: precautions Before taking Avandia, tell your doctor or pharmacist if we are allergic to it; or to other " glitazones " such as pioglitazone; or if you have any other allergies.

Promptly talk with your doctor or pharmacist about benefits and possible risks of Avandia, even if we have been taking it for awhile, especially if we have heart problems. Do not stop taking it unless directed to do so.

Avandia should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have:

Before using Avandia, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of:

We may experience blurred vision, dizziness, or drowsiness due to extremely low or high blood sugar levels; use caution engaging in activities requiring alertness such as driving or using machinery.

Limit alcohol while taking Avandia because it can increase risk of your blood sugar getting too low ( hypoglycemia ) .

During times of stress, such as fever, infection, injury or surgery, it may be more difficult to control your blood sugar. Consult your doctor, as additional medication may be required.

Avandia may increase risk of bone fracture ( upper arm, hand, foot ) in female patients. To lower chance of getting injured, use caution when doing activities such as contact sports.

Avandia can cause changes in the menstrual cycle ( ovulation ) in women with certain fertility problems. Consult your doctor or pharmacist about use of reliable birth control while taking this medication.

Avandia should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy. Discuss risks and benefits with your doctor. Your doctor may substitute insulin for Avandia during your pregnancy. Follow all instructions carefully.

It's unknown if Avandia passes into breast milk. Breast-feeding while using Avandia isn't recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Avandia: interactions Your healthcare professionals ( e. g. , doctor or pharmacist ) may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring we for it. Don't start, stop or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.

Before using Avandia, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products we may use, especially of:

Beta-blocker medications ( e. g. , metoprolol, propranolol, glaucoma eye drops such as timolol ) may prevent fast/pounding heartbeat you would usually feel when your blood sugar level falls too low ( hypoglycemia ) . Other symptoms of low blood sugar such as dizziness, hunger, or sweating are unaffected by these drugs.

This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using Avandia, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products we use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share list with your doctor and pharmacist.

Avandia: overdose If overdose of Avandia is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call US national poison hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly.

Avandia: notes Don't share Avandia with others.

It's recommended we attend a diabetes education program to understand diabetes and all important aspects of its treatment including meals/diet, exercise, personal hygiene, medications and getting regular eye, foot and medical exams.

Lifestyle changes that help promote healthy bones include increasing weight-bearing exercise, eating well-balanced meals containing adequate calcium and vitamin D, stopping smoking, and limiting alcohol. Consult your doctor to see if we need to take calcium/vitamin D supplements and discuss lifestyle changes that might benefit you.

Keep all medical appointments. Laboratory and/or medical tests ( e. g. , liver and kidney function tests, fasting blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c, complete blood counts, blood cholesterol levels ) will be performed to monitor for side effects and response to therapy. Regularly check your blood or urine for sugar, as directed by your doctor or pharmacist.

Avandia: missed dose If we miss a dose Avandia, use it as soon as we remember. If it is near time of the next dose, skip missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Don't double the dose of Avandia to catch up.

Avandia: storage Store Avandia at room temperature at 77 degrees F ( 25 degrees C ) away from light and moisture. Brief storage between 59-86 degrees F ( 15-30 degrees C ) is permitted. Don't store Avandia in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Properly discard Avandia when it's expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.

Avandia: warning Avandia may infrequently cause or worsen a certain heart problem ( congestive heart failure ) . Tell your doctor immediately if we notice any symptoms of heart failure, including: swelling of hands/feet, unusual/sudden weight gain, trouble breathing, or unusual tiredness.

Price comparison for Avandia

Higher Cholesterol Increases Risk Of Boichemical Failure After Radical Prostatectomy

Poor cholesterol management mayn't only affect a man's risk for prostate cancer, but also his risk of biomedical recurrence after prostatectomy, according to new data from Duke University. Researchers, presented at 103rd Annual Scientific Meeting of American Urological Association ( AUA ) , identified 471 patients from Shared Equal Access Regional Cancer Hospital ( SEARCH ) database who underwent radical prostatectomy between 1998 and 2007 and found that those with a high level of low-density lipoprotein ( LDL ) cholesterol and those with increased serum cholesterol were up to 2. 5 times more likely to experience a biochemical relapse.

Researchers employed Cox proportional hazard analysis to examine relationships between cholesterol, LDL and high-density lipoprotein ( HDL ) levels with biomedical recurrence independent of factors such as age, race, statin drug use and body mass index.

This study, along with other research that has linked obesity to prostate cancer, magnifies importance of diet and exercise in achieving sound urologic health. As many urologic conditions can be linked to cardiovascular problems, high cholesterol is a major concern and should be monitored.

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Banez LL, Hamilton RJ, Aronson WJ, Terris MK, Presti JC, Kane CJ et al: Higher Cholesterol Increases the Risk of Biochemical Failure after Radical Prostatectomy: Results from SEARCH Database Group. J Urol, suppl. , 2008; 179: 68, abstract 192.

About the American Urological Association: Founded in 1902 and headquartered near Baltimore, Maryland, the American Urological Association is pre-eminent professional organization for urologists, with more than 15, 000 members throughout world. An educational nonprofit organization, AUA pursues its mission of fostering highest standards of urologic care by carrying out a wide variety of programs for members and their patients, including UrologyHealth. org, an award-winning on-line patient education resource, and American Urological Association Foundation, Inc.

Source: Lacey Holt American Urological Association

Health tips and advises for everybody.