What is Rosiglitazone (Avandia)?
One of the effective medications used today for treating diabetes is Rosiglitazone. It is a pill taken orally and works best with proper diet and regular exercise. It is FDA-approved and may be consumed alone or with other medications to work efficiently in stabilizing blood sugar levels.
Rosiglitazone is an oral generic drug available under the brand name Avandia. This medication is only prescribed to adults, as its safety and effectiveness in children are unknown. This oral medication is not for treating type 1 diabetes.
How does it work?
In type 2 diabetes, the body is unable to use insulin properly. It is an impairment in how our body regulates sugar as energy or fuel. It is a chronic disease that results in the buildup of a significant amount of sugar in the bloodstream. This disease can lead to different complications involving the nervous, circulatory, and immune systems.
Managing type 2 diabetes will involve using anti-diabetic medications, one of which is Rosiglitazone. But how does this particular medication work? Does it work efficiently to balance our body’s blood glucose levels?
Rosiglitazone is part of a drug class known as Antidiabetics, Thiazolidinediones. Its primary function is to increase insulin sensitivity in people with varying blood sugar levels. It helps improve a person’s glycemic control while also stabilizing insulin levels. Note that most people with type 2 diabetes are overweight. Taking Rosiglitazone can also help lose weight.
Rosiglitazone prevents the development of kidney complications, nerve damage, blindness, and sexual dysfunction. Taking Rosiglitazone also lessens your risk of developing heart complications and stroke.
Also read: Avandia (Rosiglitazone) Side Effects
Rosiglitazone Dosage
Like other medications, before receiving a prescription for Rosiglitazone, your healthcare professional will need to check on some factors. These factors are:
- Age and weight
- Medical history
- Pre-existing health conditions
- Other forms of medicines you are taking currently
As mentioned, Rosiglitazone is only suitable for adults with type 2 diabetes. The dosage provided below only caters to 18 years old and above individuals.
The usual dose for adults:
- For the initial dose, take 4 mg of Rosiglitazone once per day.
- The maximum dosage per day is 8 mg of Rosiglitazone.
- For the maintenance dose, only increase the initial dose to 8 mg of Rosiglitazone if the required medication response is not enough after 8 – 12 weeks of drug consumption.
Rosiglitazone comes as a film-coated tablet. It is also available in different strengths – 2 mg, 4 mg, and 8 mg. Since the usual dose is 4 mg, you can take this medicine as a single daily dose or in divided dosages. You can opt to use the strength of 2 mg of Rosiglitazone that you will need to take twice a day. Again, this dosage must align with proper diet and exercise to work better.
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How to take it?
Take Rosiglitazone as instructed by your healthcare professional. Additionally, read the direction indicated on the prescription label.
Take Rosiglitazone with or without food. However, healthcare professionals might strongly recommend taking this medicine with food to avoid stomachache. Constantly monitor your blood glucose levels after taking Rosiglitazone.
In case of a missed dose, do the following:
- If you forget your dose for the day and it is already time for your next dose, skip it and take the following medication as scheduled.
- Avoid taking two doses at one time.
- Set the alarm to schedule reminder notifications.
After taking Rosiglitazone, you may feel some symptoms of hypoglycemia. It includes dizziness, irritability, and shakiness. If the condition occurs, eat something to stabilize your blood glucose levels. Ask your doctor for recommendations.
If your diabetes is hard to control, your healthcare professional may also prescribe you a glucagon injection kit with Rosiglitazone. It will help you in severe cases of hypoglycemia.
Also read: Actos Vs. Avandia
Drug Interactions
As mentioned above, one of the factors that your healthcare professional check before giving out your prescription is learning about other forms of medicines you are currently taking. But why?
Your treatment with Rosiglitazone can interact with other medicines. It includes the drugs you take before having a diabetes diagnosis. Besides making your Rosiglitazone treatment less effective, it also creates different health complications to develop within your body.
Discuss your previous health problems with your healthcare professional. Doing so will prevent unwanted drug interactions.
Warnings and Precautions
Note the following warnings when starting your treatment with Rosiglitazone:
- Avoid using this medicine if you have severe heart problems. Using this medicine while also experiencing congestive heart problems can cause your heart to fail.
- Avoid taking Rosiglitazone if you are allergic to it and its ingredients. Note that any form of hypersensitivity can be fatal.
Before taking Rosiglitazone, here are some precautions you need to follow and understand:
- Tell your healthcare professional if you have a history of congestive heart failure, stroke, vision problems, or liver disease.
- If you are pregnant, discuss your safety with your healthcare professional. Even if you are pregnant, it is still important to control blood sugar levels to avoid complications for both you and your baby.
- Avoid breastfeeding when using Rosiglitazone.
Follow the instructions detailed by your healthcare professional. If you fail to do so, it can lead to uncontrolled blood sugar. Note that diabetes can lead to different health complications. Preventing them by taking Rosiglitazone and staying true to the instructions will help you in the process of recovery.
