Comparing Metformin vs Pioglitazone

View side-by-side comparisons of medication uses, ratings, cost, side effects and interactions.
Metformin	Pioglitazone	Enter another drug to compare

Metformin

Pioglitazone

Prescription only

Metformin improves how the body responds to insulin and it is used to treat type 2 diabetes. Taste disturbances, diarrhea, and other stomach-related side effects are common side effects. Metformin is... View more

Prescription only

Prescribed for Type 2 Diabetes, Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis. Pioglitazone may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

More about Metformin

More about Pioglitazone

Ratings & Reviews

Metformin has an average rating of 6.8 out of 10 from a total of 655 ratings on Drugs.com. 54% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 19% reported a negative effect.

Pioglitazone has an average rating of 4.5 out of 10 from a total of 53 ratings on Drugs.com. 25% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 51% reported a negative effect.

View all 655 reviews

View all 53 reviews

Side Effects Experienced by Users Side effects are reported in Drugs.com user reviews and not clinically verified.

Diarrhea (25.6%)
Nausea (15.3%)
Upset stomach (9.8%)
Stomach pain (4.7%)
Gas (4.6%)
Headaches (4.4%)
Cramps (3.7%)

View all Metformin side effects

Weight gain (30.2%)
Swelling (26.4%)
Fatigue (9.4%)
Dizziness (5.7%)
Water retention (5.7%)

View all Pioglitazone side effects

Drug Class

Non-sulfonylureas

Thiazolidinediones

Generic Availability

Lower cost generic

Pricing and Coupons * Prices are without insurance

Quantity	100 each
Strength	500 mg
Per unit^*	$0.15 - $0.24
Cost^*	$15.37 - $24.08

View all Metformin prices

Quantity	100 each
Strength	15 mg
Per unit^*	$0.98 - $1.19
Cost^*	$98.20 - $119.31

View all Pioglitazone prices

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Dosage Forms

Oral solution
Oral tablet
Oral tablet, extended release

Oral tablet

Half Life Drug half-life is the time required for plasma concentration to reduce to half its original value.

4.5 hours

24 hours

CSA Schedule ¹ View glossary of CSA terms

Not a controlled drug

Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.

Not a controlled drug

Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.

Pregnancy Category

Category B No proven risk in humans

See the full pregnancy warnings document.

Category C Risk cannot be ruled out

See the full pregnancy warnings document.

Drug Interactions

A total of 377 drugs are known to interact with Metformin:

24 major drug interactions (129 brand and generic names)
344 moderate drug interactions (1793 brand and generic names)
9 minor drug interactions (35 brand and generic names)

A total of 343 drugs are known to interact with Pioglitazone:

9 major drug interactions (19 brand and generic names)
320 moderate drug interactions (1596 brand and generic names)
14 minor drug interactions (97 brand and generic names)

Alcohol/Food/Lifestyle Interactions

MetFORMIN should be taken with meals, and excessive alcohol intake (either short-term binge... View more

Alcohol may affect blood glucose levels in patients with diabetes. Both hypoglycemia (low blood... View more

Disease Interactions

First Approval Date

March 03, 1995

July 15, 1999

WADA Class View classifications

N/A

More Information

Patient Resources

Metformin uses

Pioglitazone uses

Professional Resources

¹ The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) schedule information displayed applies to substances regulated under federal law. There may be variations in CSA schedules between individual states.

Further information

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

Medical Disclaimer

Comparing Metformin vs Pioglitazone

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