Newspaper Page Text
Patient Information about
AVANDIA® (rosiglitazone maleate)
2 mg, 4 mg, and 8 mg Tablets
What is Avandia!
Avandia is one product in a class of prescription drugs
called thiazolidinediones (thigh-a-zol-a-deen-die-owns) or
TZDs. It is used to treat type 2 diabetes by helping the
body use the insulin that it is already making. Avandia
comes as pills that can be taken either once a day or twice
a day to help improve blood sugar levels.
How does Avandia treat type 2 diabetes?
If you have type 2 diabetes, your body probably still pro
duces insulin but it is not able to use the insulin efficiently.
Insulin is needed to allow sugar to be carried from the blood
stream into many cells of the body for energy. If insulin is
not being used correctly, sugar does not enter the cells
very well and builds up in the blood. If not controlled, the
high blood sugar level can lead to serious medical prob
lems, including kidney damage, blindness and amputation.
Avandia helps your body use insulin by making the cells
more sensitive to insulin so that the sugar can enter the cell.
How quickly will Avandia begin to work?
Avandia begins to reduce blood sugar levels within 2 weeks.
However, since Avandia works to address an important
underlying cause of type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, it
may take 8 to 12 weeks to see the full effect. If you do not
respond adequately to your starting dose of Avandia, your
physician may increase your daily dose to improve your
blood sugar control.
How should I take Avandia'}
Your doctor may tell you to take Avandia once a day or twice
a day (in the morning and evening). It can be taken with or
without meals. Food does not affect how Avandia works. To
help you remember to take Avandia, you may want to take
it at the same time every day.
What if I miss a dose?
If vour doctor has prescribed Avandia for use once a day;
• As soon as you remember your missed dose, take one
tablet anytime during the day.
• If you forget and go a whole day without taking a dose,
don't try to make it up by adding another dose on the
following day. Forget about the missed dose and simply
follow your normal schedule.
If vour doctor has prescribed Avandia for use twice a dav:
• As soon as you remember the missed dose, take one
tablet.
• Take the next dose at the normal time on the same day.
• Don't try to make up a missed dose from the day before.
• You should never take three doses on any single day in
order to make up for a missed dose the day before.
Do I need to test my blood for sugar while using Avandia?
Yes, you should follow your doctor’s instructions about your
at-home testing schedule.
Does Avandia cure type 2 diabetes?
Currently there is no cure for diabetes. The only way to
avoid the effects of the disease is to maintain good blood
sugar control by following your doctor's advice for diet,
exercise, weight control, and medication. Avandia. alone or
in combination with other antidiabetic drugs (i.e., sulfonyl
ureas or metformin), may improve these other efforts by
helping your body make better use of the insulin it already
produces.
Can I take Avandia with other medications?
Avandia has been taken safely by people using other medi
cations, including other antidiabetic medications, birth
control pills, warfarin (a blood thinner), Zantac® (ranitidine,
an antiulcer product from GlaxoSmithKline), certain heart
medications, and some cholesterol-lowering products. You
should discuss with your doctor the most appropriate plan
for you. If you are taking prescription or over-the-counter
products for your diabetes or for conditions other than
diabetes, be sure to tell your doctor. Sometimes a patient
who is taking two antidiabetic medications each day can
become irritable, lightheaded or excessively tired. Tell your
doctor if this occurs; your blood sugar levels may be drop
ping too low, and the dose of your medication may need to
be reduced.
What should I discuss with my doctor before taking
Avandia!
Avandia in combination with insulin may increase the risk of
serious heart problems. Because of this, talk to your doctor
before using Avandia and insulin together. Avandia may
cause fluid retention or swelling which could lead to or
worsen heart failure, so tell your doctor if you have a history
of these conditions. You should also talk to your doctor if
you have liver problems, or if you are nursing, pregnant or
thinking of becoming pregnant. If you are a premenopausal
woman who is not ovulating, you should know that Avandia
therapy may result in the resumption of ovulation, which may
increase your chances of becoming pregnant. Therefore,
you may need to consider birth control options.
What are the possible side effects of Avandia ?
Avandia was generally well tolerated in clinical trials. The
most common side effects reported by people taking
Avandia were upper respiratory infection (cold-like symp
toms) and headache. As with most other diabetes medica
tions, you may experience an increase in weight. You may
also experience edema (swelling) and/or anemia (tired
ness). If you experience any swelling of your extremities
(e.g., legs, ankles) or tiredness, notify your doctor. Talk to
your doctor immediately if you experience edema, short
ness of breath, an unusually rapid increase in weight, or
other symptoms of heart failure.
Who should not use Avandia!
You should not take Avandia if you are in the later stages of
heart failure or if you have active liver disease. The follow
ing people should also not take Avandia: People with type
1 diabetes, people who experienced yellowing of the skin
with Rezulin® (troglitazone, Parke-Davis), people who are
allergic to Avandia or any of its components and people
with diabetic ketoacidosis.
Why are laboratory tests recommended?
Your doctor may conduct blood tests to measure your blood
sugar control. Blood tests to check for serious liver prob
lems should be conducted before starting Avandia, every 2
months during the first year, and periodically thereafter.
It is important that you call your doctor immediately if you
experience unexplained symptoms of nausea, vomiting,
stomach pain, tiredness, anorexia, dark urine, or yellowing of
the skin.
How should I store Avandia!
Avandia should be stored at room temperature in a child
proof container out of the reach of children. Store Avandia
in its original container.
GlaxoSmithKline
©2OOI The GlaxoSmithKline Group of Companies
All rights reserved. Printed in USA. AV0638 August 2001
(continued from page 9)
Instead of diving into a diet then, delve into
the ways you can benefit from exercising, such
as weight loss, improved circulation and cardio
vascular health, stress reduction, better sleep,
and higher self-esteem. “Coming up with a
different benefit for every week of the year can
help maintain motivation,” Prochaska says. The
same approach can be applied to almost any
New Year’s resolution, from conquering credit
card debt, to spending more time with family,
to managing anger.
After recognizing the need to change and
contemplating the costs and benefits of
change, New Year’s resolution makers can
prepare for action.
That involves committing to a plan of
action and taking steps to ensure the success
of that plan. For smokers, that might mean
cleaning out the ashtray in one’s car or replac
ing an after-dinner cigarette with a short walk.
For dieters, it could mean adding a daily walk.
Then once you take action you’ll have a better
chance of success.
Reward your progress every stage and step
of the way, Prochaska suggests. Pat yourself
on the back, share your victories with friends
and family, and let them cheer you on. Give
yourself a reward in the form of an enjoyable
activity or a present. And don't beat yourself
up when you backslide. Look at lapses as
learning opportunities.
“Remember, change doesn’t equal action,”
Prochaska says. “Change equals progress.”
Angela Wibking is a Nashville, Tenn.. freelance
writer.
Able County
by TOM MILNER
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peace, cat) I *tffl get a eoupie of toys, you
know, for the sake of tradHkmr