Actos-side effects

[John Flynn]

mary cooley wrote:

what are people using in place of actos?

A low carb diet seems the only real way to lower blood sugar. It works, but you have to stick to it.

[mary]

I started on actos in the spring . By June my hair fell out so bad i had to start wearing a wig.
I don't take it anymore and now my hair is coming back.

[Fred]

Belle Jones wrote:

I was prescribed ACTOS and after one month, something on a blood
test showed that it was damaging my kidneys. The doctor stopped
the ACTOS and started me on JANUVIA, the new diabetic drug approved in October 2006. I still have some ankle swelling but not
all the time. I have to watch what I eat or I will gain...but overall,
I think JANUVIA was the best choice for me.
Are all people that are pre-diabetic or diabetic prone to gaine weight
easily? I assume it is. Belly fat is sooo ugly! I am insulin resistant
and the belly fat is what drove me to the doctor along with other
symptoms of diabetes. My AC1 stays around 5.5 now.

Lucky you seem to have a good doctor. Although an even better doctor wouldn't have prescribed Actos in the first place.

[Connie Harner]

mary cooley wrote:

what are people using in place of actos?

I stopped ACTOS myself and went to a specialist. He put me on Byetta and I have lost 45 pounds. Can go up and down the stairs without getting short of breath. Too many other side effects to mention. One I can think of that really scares me is I would wake up in the middle of the night coughing. I have had two heart attacks and I still think I was filling up with fluid around my heart and it was choaking me. This medicine is deadly. I have told everyone I know who is taking this drug to stop IMMEDIATLY.

[Belle Jones]

James Hunt wrote:

<quoted text>In March of 2000, my dad started on 45mg. of Actos. After 5 months of using this drug, he was put on Lasix and taken off Actos because of fluid buildup. He had severe lower leg swelling that never was reversed. He, at some point, was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. In Aug. of 2001, he was rushed to the hospital, where he passed away soon after. The nurse said his lungs filled up with fluid before they could drain them. I noticed that you spoke of kidney trouble on this drug. He had also been diagnosed with acute kidney failure. I don't know if this is a known side affect of actos, but I wouldn't be surprised. Thanks for your post, it is very helpful.

It is nice to learn well over a year later, that my post in 2007 helped Mr. Hunt...the effort was worth it if it even helped one person! Belle Jones

[Belle Jones]

Fred Makati, Philippines
#28
Aug 2, 2008

Belle Jones wrote:
I was prescribed ACTOS and after one month, something on a blood
test showed that it was damaging my kidneys. The doctor stopped the
ACTOS.

Fred's Response:
Lucky you seem to have a good doctor. Although an even better doctor wouldn't have prescribed Actos in the first place.

Belle's response to Fred's response:
I AM SURPRISED that you write "an even better doctor wouldn't have
prescribed Actos in the first place. May I ask what knowledge do you
have that makes you write that a "better doctor wouldn't have prescribed
it in the first place?" My doctor is Board Certified and I am very satisfied
with him. My deceased husband was Board Certified in two fields and
I think I can tell when a doctor is well informed. Please give me your
opinion on why you posted what you did. Thanks!

[Bill]

I have been on Actos for about a week. Have an ear ache and sore throat, so doc dx'd sinus infection (never had one in my life) and he wrote Rx for antibiotics. Went to pic up the antibiotics script last night, and had trouble driving due to vision issues. I am ready to stop Actos, but could someone tell me more about tooth problem?

PLW wrote:

Actos can be fabulous for reducing blood sugar levels in Type II diabetics. It reduced mine from the 160s to around 85 consistently. However, for a lot more people than doctors are willing to admit, severe weight gain accompanied by growing lethargy are a real problem, and this has been associated with congestive heart disease. I gained 13 pounds in six weeks despite a strict low-carb diet and increased exercise, so I quit the drug.
It also can accelerate tooth disease, and cause muscle aches.

[Shybee]

I was on Metaphormin 1000mg, and it killed my stomach. My doctor put me on Actos which I loved, I had no pain and my sugar went down. Then after about 6 months I realized my clothes weren't fitting, my feet, ankles and legs started to swell to the point I could barely put on my shoes, I was having severe hunger attacks, and I felt bloated. I talked to my doctor and of course he said it's not the medicince you have water retention, and maybe your just hungry. Long story short I stopped the medicine on my own and after about 2 weeks I had NO more hunger fits, my clothes started to feel better, and now I'm about 4 months off the medicine and my feet, legs and ankels haven't swelled once. I am not taking 500mg extended metaphorin, and it is wonderful I have no pain from this medication and I'm loosing weight.

[Frank OD Hatfield]

I forgot to add that Actos also started making me very light headed. I almost passed out. This happened twice. Everything in front of me turned white. Thank god I was sitting at my desk and not driving.

[Linda]

it has worked for me but yes, I have had some of the side effects. I get mine from Canada cause I don't have health insurance, it is cheaper there, most of you are probably insured but if not see this place
http://www.PrescriptionDrugsCanada.Org

[Les Norlin]

I took actos from 2002 to 2006. I felt like crap with a racing heart. I had a lousy doctor who never listened to me. Her last name was Zwelling. I was without a doctor for 2 years and took metformin. From Nov. 2007 to Feb 2008 I passed 40 kidney stones. I stopped taking metformin and my kidney stones stopped. I have a history of kidney stones,and should never been prescibed metformin because I found out in my research that it contains nano particles that can cause kidney stones. Stupid doctor(quack). From Feb 2008 to now I have been taking Humilin 70/30 with 45mg actos. I stopped the actos 2 weeks ago after numbness on left side of face and left arm. After dicontinuing it, the numbness went away. I only have tingling in my left hand now, and no more racing of the heart. My blood sugar is lower without the actos while taking the same dose of Humilin 70/30. Humilins side effect on me is it makes me fatigued. I gained 40 pounds during the first 2 months on actos in 2008. It has been 2 weeks since I stopped taking it and I have lost 5 pounds. I should have stopped taking it sooner. I feel like I have suffered permanent injury from its use and I beleive I have been going through withdrawaL. Most people fear the needle, but I wish I had taken the insulin from the begining of my being diagnossed with diabetes. The pills all suck, and if you are lucky enough not to have side effects you are lucky.

[Jamie]

After taking actos for 6 weeks I noticed that my belly fat was decreasing, but I was adding fat to my butt and hips. Those are places where I never had a fat problem before. My body weight has been mostly stabe, but like I said, a big shift in where I store my bodyfat. I plan to contine with the actos though because I do feel much better and my blood sugar in well under control.

[isler968]

mary cooley wrote:

what are people using in place of actos?

am new to actos doctor recently put me on. lowered sugar levels but also noticed fatigue, muscle aches, blurry eyes also...have you found any other better alternatives to actos? curious since noticed your question was posted a while ago...please reply to "[e-mail]"

[Jamie]

Actos has caused me to gain weight in my hips and thighs while decresing my belly fat giving me a pear shape figure.

[theo plowden]

I have been taqking actos and glipizide for about 10 months; for six months i've had a chonic cough that would not stop regardless of any medication i was prescribe. how ever i now don't have the coughing any more. I did have swelling of my left ankle and leg during the same time as the coughing but this also has not been a problem for the past month. I am concerned about the lack of energy as my metabolism has decreased this year verses my anergy level last year before taking actos and glipizide.

[Maria50]

I find site with Actos description - drug uses, side effects, dosage, precautions, storage - http://pills-meds.com/order-actos-online.html Hope, this information about this medication will be useful for you

[Jamie]

I gained 14 pound in 9 months while on actos. The weight seems to be going straight to my hips, thighs, butt and upper arms. My upper body muscle mass seems to be shrinking with loss of tone and some shoulder pain.

Actos has been wonderful in helping me with my type II though so I plan to take my doctor's advice and stay on it.