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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 If I ask for comethiiig really big, like world peace, cat) I *tffl get a eoupie of toys, you know, for the sake of tradHkmr