Pioglitazone and Glimepiride

Generic name: Pioglitazone and Glimepiride [ pye-oh-GLI-ta-zone-& GLYE-me-pye-ride ]
Brand name: Duetact
Drug class: Antidiabetic combinations

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 12, 2024.

Uses of Pioglitazone and Glimepiride:

• It is used to lower blood sugar in patients with high blood sugar (diabetes).

What do I need to tell my doctor BEFORE I take Pioglitazone and Glimepiride?

For all patients taking pioglitazone and glimepiride:

• If you have an allergy to glimepiride, pioglitazone, or any other part of pioglitazone and glimepiride.
• If you are allergic to pioglitazone and glimepiride; any part of pioglitazone and glimepiride; or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had.
• If you have any of these health problems: Acidic blood problem, bladder cancer, or type 1 diabetes.

Children:

• If the patient is a child. Do not give pioglitazone and glimepiride to a child.

This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with pioglitazone and glimepiride.

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take pioglitazone and glimepiride with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.

What are some things I need to know or do while I take Pioglitazone and Glimepiride?

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take pioglitazone and glimepiride. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• Do not drive if your blood sugar has been low. There is a greater chance of you having a crash.
• The chance of getting bladder cancer may be raised when taking pioglitazone and glimepiride. Talk with the doctor.
• Low blood sugar may happen with pioglitazone and glimepiride. Very low blood sugar can lead to seizures, passing out, long lasting brain damage, and sometimes death. Talk with the doctor.
• Check your blood sugar as you have been told by your doctor.
• Have blood work checked as you have been told by the doctor. Talk with the doctor.
• Be careful if you have G6PD deficiency. Anemia may happen.
• Talk with your doctor before you drink alcohol.
• Follow the diet and workout plan that your doctor told you about.
• If you also take colesevelam, take it at least 4 hours after you take pioglitazone and glimepiride.
• This medicine may raise the chance of death from heart disease. Talk with your doctor.
• It may be harder to control blood sugar during times of stress such as fever, infection, injury, or surgery. A change in physical activity, exercise, or diet may also affect blood sugar.
• This medicine may raise the chance of broken bones. The chance may be higher in women. Broken bones were seen after people took pioglitazone and glimepiride for 1 year. Most of the broken bones happened in the upper arm, hand, or foot. Talk with your doctor about how to keep your bones healthy or if you have any questions.
• If you are 65 or older, use pioglitazone and glimepiride with care. You could have more side effects.
• There is a chance of pregnancy in women of childbearing age who have not been ovulating. If you want to avoid pregnancy, use birth control while taking pioglitazone and glimepiride.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks of using pioglitazone and glimepiride while you are pregnant.
• Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding. You will need to talk about any risks to your baby.

How is this medicine (Pioglitazone and Glimepiride) best taken?

Use pioglitazone and glimepiride as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

• Take with the first meal of the day.
• Keep taking pioglitazone and glimepiride as you have been told by your doctor or other health care provider, even if you feel well.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• Skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time.
• Do not take 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.

What are some side effects that I need to call my doctor about right away?

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Weakness on 1 side of the body, trouble speaking or thinking, change in balance, drooping on one side of the face, or blurred eyesight.
• Change in eyesight.
• Pain when passing urine or blood in urine.
• Passing urine more often.
• Bone pain.
• Feeling very tired or weak.
• Very bad dizziness or passing out.
• Chest pain or pressure.
• Low blood sugar can happen. The chance may be raised when pioglitazone and glimepiride is used with other drugs for diabetes. Signs may be dizziness, headache, feeling sleepy or weak, shaking, fast heartbeat, confusion, hunger, or sweating. Call your doctor right away if you have any of these signs. Follow what you have been told to do for low blood sugar. This may include taking glucose tablets, liquid glucose, or some fruit juices.
• A very bad skin reaction (Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis) may happen. It can cause very bad health problems that may not go away, and sometimes death. Get medical help right away if you have signs like red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin (with or without fever); red or irritated eyes; or sores in your mouth, throat, nose, or eyes.
• Very bad and sometimes deadly liver problems have happened with pioglitazone and glimepiride. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of liver problems like dark urine, feeling tired, not hungry, upset stomach or stomach pain, light-colored stools, throwing up, or yellow skin or eyes.

What are some other side effects of Pioglitazone and Glimepiride?

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:

• Headache.
• Diarrhea.
• Upset stomach.
• Muscle pain.
• Signs of a common cold.
• Sinus pain.
• Sore throat.
• Weight gain.

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088. You may also report side effects at https://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

How do I store and/or throw out Pioglitazone and Glimepiride?

• Store in the original container at room temperature.
• Keep lid tightly closed.
• Store in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom.
• Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area.

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

• If your symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your doctor.
• Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else's drugs.
• This medicine comes with an extra patient fact sheet called a Medication Guide. Read it with care. Read it again each time pioglitazone and glimepiride is refilled. If you have any questions about pioglitazone and glimepiride, please talk with the doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer