Avandamet

What is Avandamet?

Avandamet is a combination of two oral diabetic medicines, metformin and rosiglitazone. These help control blood sugar levels.Avandamet can be used in conjunction with diet and exercise for adults with diabetes type 2 mellitus to control blood sugar levels. This medication is not intended to treat type 1 diabetes.Avandamet should not be used with insulin. This medicine may increase the risk of heart problems if taken with insulin.

Warnings

Avandamet should not be used if you suffer from severe or uncontrolled heart problems, severe kidney issues, or diabetic ketoacidosis.You will need to temporarily stop using metformin if you are going to undergo an x-ray, CT scan, or any other type of test that uses a dye injected directly into your veins.Avandamet can cause a serious condition known as lactic acidosis. Seek emergency medical attention if you experience even mild symptoms, such as muscle pain or weakness; numbness or coldness in your arms or legs; difficulty breathing; or stomach pain with nausea and vomiting.

Prior to using this drug

Avandamet should not be used if:

• Heart failure that is severe or uncontrolled
• Severe kidney problems;
• Diabetic ketoacidosis: Call your doctor to get treated.

Avandamet must be temporarily stopped if you are going to undergo any type of x-ray or CT scan that uses a dye injected directly into your veins.Metformin can cause a serious condition known as lactic acidosis. It is more common in people with liver or kidney diseases, congestive cardiac failure, heart attacks or strokes, severeinfections, age 65 and older, dehydration, or excessive alcohol consumption. Speak to your doctor about the risks.

Tell your doctor about any of the following to ensure that Avandamet will be safe for you:

• Heart disease is congestive cardiac failure.
• Fluid retention;
• Kidney disease
• A problem with the pituitary or adrenal glands.
• Liver disease
• Diabetes can cause eye problems.

While taking rosiglitazone, women are more likely to suffer from bone fractures in the upper arm or hand. If you're concerned, talk to your doctor.You should follow your doctor's advice when using Avandamet during pregnancy.Avandamet has caused some women to start menstruating again after a long period of not having one due to medical conditions. If your period returns, you may be able to get pregnant. Speak to your doctor about birth control.It is unknown if metformin or rosiglitazone can pass into breast milk or if they could harm a baby who is nursing. Avandamet should not be taken while breastfeeding.Avandamet should not be used by anyone under the age of 18.

Similar/related drugs

Ozempic, Mounjaro, Metformin, Trulicity, Lantus, Victoza, and Tresiba

How do I take Avandamet?

Follow the directions on your prescription label. Please follow all the instructions on the prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally alter your dosage. Use this medication only as prescribed. Do not exceed the recommended dose or use it for longer.A blood test may be performed by your doctor to ensure that you are not suffering from any conditions that would make it unsafe for you to use Avandamet.If Avandamet upsets your stomach, take it with food.Everyone with diabetes can experience low blood sugar. The symptoms of low blood sugar include headaches, hunger, sweating, and irritability. They can also cause nausea, dizziness, or a fast heartbeat. Always keep sugary foods such as hard candy, crackers, or raisins on hand to treat low blood sugar.

If you are suffering from severe hypoglycemia and can't eat or drink anything, your doctor may prescribe an emergency glucagon injection kit. Make sure that your family members and friends are familiar with how to administer this emergency injection.Stress, illness, surgery, and alcohol consumption can affect blood sugar levels. Consult your doctor before making any changes to your medication or dose schedule.Take only the prescribed amount of vitamin B12 if you want to take more vitamin B12 when you are taking Avandamet.Avandamet may be part of a comprehensive treatment plan that includes diet, exercise, and weight management, as well as regular blood sugar tests and medical attention. You should follow your doctor's advice.Store away from heat and moisture at room temperature.

Info on dosage

Adult dose of Avandamet used for diabetes type 2:

Assess the risks and benefits of starting with monotherapy versus combination therapy.
Initial dose: rosiglitazone 2/metformin 500mg orally, once or twice per day.
Consider a starting dose of rosiglitazone 500 mg/metformin 2 mg twice daily if your glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) or fasting blood glucose is higher than 270 mg/dL.
If not controlled by 4 weeks, increase the dose of rosiglitazone (2 mg) or metformin (500 mg) in divided doses.
Patients not adequately controlled on rosiglitazone monotherapy:
Initial dose: current dose of rosiglitazone plus metformin, 1,000 mg orally per day in two divided doses
Metformin monotherapy is not enough to control patients.
Initial dose: Current dose of metformin plus rosiglitazone, 4 mg orally per day in two divided doses
Patients who are currently receiving metformin and rosiglitazone as separate components:
Switch to a combination product that contains the same dose for each component.
Titration: Give yourself enough time to evaluate the response. Increase rosiglitazone by 4 mg and metformin by 500 mg daily in divided doses.
Maximum dosage per day of 8 mg rosiglitazone/2000 mg metformin per dayThis drug should be taken in divided doses at meals.
It is recommended to gradually increase the dose of metformin in order to reduce gastrointestinal side effects and determine the lowest effective dose.
Coadministration of insulin with a sulfonylurea is not recommended.
Use: As an adjunct to diet, exercise, and glycemic management in adults with type 2 diabetes.

What happens if I miss the dose?

As soon as you realize, take any missed medication as soon as possible. If your next scheduled dosage is approaching, skip the missed dose. You should not take more medicine to compensate for a missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Call 1-800-222-1222 for poison help or seek immediate medical attention.

Aviod this

Avoid alcohol. Alcohol lowers your blood sugar levels and can increase the risk of lactic acidosis when you are taking Avandamet.

Side effects of Avandamet

If you experience any of the following symptoms of an Avandamet allergy: hives or itching, difficulty breathing, trouble swallowing, swelling of your lips, face, tongue, or throat, and/or difficulty breathing, seek emergency medical attention.Early symptoms may worsen over time, and the condition can be fatal. If you experience even mild symptoms, seek emergency medical attention. These include: muscle pain, weakness, numbness, or cold sensations in the arms and legs; trouble breathing; stomach pain with nausea or vomiting; fast or uneven heartbeats; dizziness; or feeling very tired or weak.

If you experience:

• Changes in your vision
• A feeling of lightheadedness, as if you could pass out.
• Low red blood cells (anemia). Pale skin, feeling of being light-headed, short of breath, rapid heartbeat, difficulty concentrating
• Heart attack symptoms: pain in the chest or pressure on your chest, pain that spreads to your shoulder or jaw, nausea, and sweating.
• Signs of Heart Failure: shortness of breath (even when lying down), swelling of your ankles or feet, rapid weight gain;
• Liver problems include nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. Also, fatigue, dark urine or stools with clay colours, or jaundice
• Severe reaction: fever, sore mouth, swelling of the face, tongue, or eyes, burning, followed by skin pain, followed by a reddish or purple rash, which spreads to other parts of your body, especially your face and upper body, and results in blistering and peeling.

Avandamet may cause side effects such as:

• Nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, diarrhoea;
• Headache, dizziness,
• Joint pain.

There may be other side effects. For medical advice on side effects, call your doctor. The FDA can be contacted at 1-800-FDA-1088 to report side effects.

Interaction with other drug

Avandamet can be affected by many other medications. Some medications may either increase or diminish their effects. You may also experience fewer hypoglycemia symptoms if you take certain drugs. This makes it more difficult to detect low blood sugar. Tell your doctor if you are taking any new medications or if you will stop taking any of your old ones.

• Insulin or other oral diabetic medications
• Heart or blood pressure medication;
• Cholesterol-lowering medicine.

This list is incomplete. Other drugs, such as prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products, may interact with metformin or rosiglitazone. This medication guide does not list all possible interactions.