AVANDIA - Rosiglitazone

Avandia Drug Used For

Avandia (Rosiglitazone Maleate) is prescribed for patients with type 2 diabetes. It is used as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in patients with this type of diabetes. Avandia is can be used in combination with sulfonylurea, metformin or insulin with diet and exercise.

Directions for Avandia medication

The usual starting dose of Avandia is 4 mg administered either as a single dose once daily or in divided doses twice daily. Dosage may be administered in the morning and evening. For patients who fail to respond to a 4 mg dose following 8 to 12 weeks of treatment, the dose may be increased to 8 mg daily. Avandia may be taken with or without food.

How Avandia medication works

Avandia's action being closely linked with insulin, it is active only in the presence of endogenous insulin & so is not advisable for patients with type 1 diabetes or for the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis. Avandia might lead to risk of hypoglycemia when used in combination with other hypoglycemic agents. Avandia should also be used with caution in patients with edema and heart problems.

Side effects of Avandia

Like most medications, Avandia also has its side effects which include fever, injury, runny or stuffy nose, back pain, diarrhea, cough, light-headedness, pain or tenderness around eyes and cheekbones, abdominal or stomach pain, blurred vision, chest pain or discomfort, decrease in amount of urine, dry mouth, fatigue, flushed, dry skin, fruit-like breath odor, increased hunger, increased thirst, increased urination, irregular heartbeat, nausea, noisy, rattling breathing, pain in the shoulders, arms, jaw or neck, shortness of breath, sweating, swelling of fingers, hands, feet or lower legs, troubled breathing, unexplained weight loss, weight gain and rapid or unusual vomiting. It is advisable to consult a doctor immediately if any of the above listed side effects get aggravated or persist over an extended period.

Other Avandia medication Information

Avandia is active only in the presence of endogenous insulin. Patients who do not achieve adequate control with a maximum dose of sulfonylurea or metformin, Avandia should be added to rather than substituted for sulfonylurea or metformin. Please follow the doctor's advice in taking this medicine. The tablet may be split and taken at half the dose, but only after medical advice.