Actos and Weight Gain: What Users Say

• Gga...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 1, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "I took this medicine for around a month and a half and it did nothing for my sugar levels. It caused a 15-pound weight gain. I stopped taking it after reading the serious side effects it can cause. Why take something that is going to make me worse off than I already am?"

• Tbe...
• July 3, 2013

For Type 2 Diabetes "I am 66 years old and have been on Actos for over five years, taking 45mg. Lately, I have experienced shortness of breath, swelling of ankles and feet, weight gain, anemia, and fatigue. My primary physician ordered an echocardiogram and a lung function test, and they both indicated my heart and lungs were fine. The doctor attributed the issues to my taking Actos and immediately took me off the medication. He replaced it with Tradjenta (5mg) and asked me to monitor my blood sugar levels three times a day during the transition. I have been off Actos for 24 hours and feel better already. I know that sounds impossible, but I believe it may have been the cause of my recent health issues."

• epi...
• January 25, 2011

For Type 2 Diabetes "Took 30 mg Actos for 8 or so months, was very happy with it at first. It did lower my numbers, but... I had so many bad side effects. Weight gain, chronic fatigue, swelling, urgent need to urinate, watery eyes, and pain. I could barely get up my steps. I stopped taking this medicine myself, and I feel as if I have been raised from the dead."

• Vic...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 2, 2018

For Type 2 Diabetes "I was on this pill for about 2 years, gained about 40 pounds, and also had really bad muscle pain. I took myself off of it, so far have lost close to 20 pounds, and muscles are feeling so much better. These pills the doctors give me freak me out. All the side effects are so bad."

• nos...
• October 16, 2010

For Type 2 Diabetes "I've been taking 30 mg of Actos per day for 3 years. In that time, I have gained 55 lbs, and I have had problems with my feet, ankles, and lower legs swelling. I would have stopped taking this medication a long time ago, but I was blaming the water retention and weight gain on menopause. Now that I stopped taking Actos, I lost 4 lbs in 2 days."

• CWA...
• September 15, 2009

For Type 2 Diabetes "I was on Actos for nine months. At first it controlled my blood sugar well, but then I started to have blood sugar lows in the 40s, gained 28 pounds eating 1200 calories a day, swelling of feet and lower legs, and finally short-term memory loss. Got a second opinion on the drug. Stopped it and all symptoms ceased within one week. I have lost 12 of the 28 pounds. I have lost 50 before this drug. I am now on glipizide and metformin. My blood sugar is a little higher but I feel so much better. I took a difficult college class and got an A, so I know my brain is functioning better."

• Anonymous
• March 4, 2008

For Type 2 Diabetes "I was taking 30 mg of Actos daily, and for the two weeks after I seriously started taking it, I had dull throbbing headaches to full-blown migraines non-stop! About 2 weeks into taking it, I developed a dull pain in my kidney area. Thinking it was a kidney infection, I went to my doctor's. We found out that it was muscle soreness...one of the common side effects. I also gained weight. As soon as I stopped taking it, the headaches stopped, and the muscle pain is going away."

• Anonymous
• June 9, 2010

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have been on Actos for almost a year. I gained 24 pounds and have swelling in my hands and feet and am retaining a lot of water in my thighs. My sugar levels are good. My doctor lowered my dosage from 30 mg to 15 mg but refused to take me off. I will get a second opinion because the side effects are too much."

• Nik...
• June 17, 2010

For Type 2 Diabetes "My doctor put me on Actos 6 months ago. I noticed swelling of legs and feet. The joints in my arms are aching daily. I also had a 23-pound weight gain and noticed headaches. But it has brought my sugar levels back under control. I didn't know about the particular side effects. I am going to talk to my doctor about them and see if I can get a replacement."

• Gil...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 4, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "I am 74 years old and have taken Actos for about 15 years and have recently gotten serious about tracking my sugar levels to indicate trends and medicine effects. I currently take Lantus and 3 metformin per day and my sugar levels are in the 80-110 range consistently. I stopped taking Actos and did not notice any effect on my sugar level. I am convinced that it does promote weight gain and swelling in the feet. I had no serious side effects, but as a person who has weight problems anyway, it is not the medication for me. I am glad I can dispense with taking it with my current medications. For those that it does help, I have no personal experience that would cause me to say do not take it. Not doing something about the sugar levels is far more risky than the side effects of this medicine."