What is Avandia (Rosiglitazone)?
Avandia is a brand name of Rosiglitazone and is prescribed to treat patients with type 2 diabetes. Follow your doctor’s advice on how you should take Avandia. Do not change your dose or stop using this medication without a doctor’s permission. You will need to regularly monitor your levels of blood sugar as you take this medication. Do not use this medication together with insulin or it could increase the risk of developing severe heart problems. The drug should not be used to treat patients with type 1 diabetes.
Also read: What is the Difference Between Avandia vs Metformin?
What is Actos?
Actos, which is also known as pioglitazone, is a drug that is prescribed together with diet and exercise to patients with type 2 diabetes. Pioglitazone works by helping your body respond better to insulin. You can take Actos alone or together with oral diabetes medications such as metformin. You should take the drug once every day with a meal or without. You should not use this medication if you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis or if you are allergic to pioglitazone.
Similarities and differences between Actos and Avandia
Similarities
Both medications are oral diabetes medications that are prescribed to people who have type 2 diabetes to help them control their blood sugar levels. Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition where the body becomes resistant to insulin. Insulin is a hormone made in the pancreas that helps muscle cells absorb glucose from the bloodstream to be used for energy. Glucose cannot enter the body’s cells without the help of insulin, hence, it stays and builds up in the bloodtstream. If left untreated, excess glucose in the blood can lead to health complications such as loss of limbs, blindness and nerve problems. Patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes can take Avandia or Actos to help them manage their blood sugar levels. However, these medications should not be used to treat patients who have type 1 diabetes, a chronic condition where the beta cells do not produce insulin because of being attacked by the immune system. Both these medications belong to a drug class called thiazolidinediones, or TZDs for short. Taking these medications reduces your body’s resistance to insulin. Therefore, your body’s cells can absorb glucose from the bloodstream. In addition, these medications also reduce the level of glucose produced by the liver. This helps to lower high blood sugar levels.
Differences
Avandia is a brand name for rosiglitazone, while Actos refers to a brand name for pioglitazone. Both of these drugs are associated with the risk of having cardiovascular disease. However, studies show that patients taking Avandia have a higher risk of getting heart disease or cancer compared to those taking Actos.
Disclaimer: Please note that the contents of this community article are strictly for informational purposes and should not be considered as medical advice. This article, and other community articles, are not written or reviewed for medical validity by Canadian Insulin or its staff. All views and opinions expressed by the contributing authors are not endorsed by Canadian Insulin. Always consult a medical professional for medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment.
