Actos Side Effects

Generic name: pioglitazone

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jun 11, 2024.

Note: This document provides detailed information about Actos Side Effects associated with pioglitazone. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply specifically to the brand name Actos.

Applies to pioglitazone: oral tablet.

Important warnings This medicine can cause some serious health issues

Oral route (tablet)

Pioglitazone hydrochloride may cause or worsen congestive heart failure.

Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of heart failure after initiation or dose increases.

Should such signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure develop, manage according to current standards of care and consider discontinuing therapy or a dose reduction.

Pioglitazone hydrochloride is not recommended in patients with symptomatic heart failure and is contraindicated in patients with established NYHA Class III or IV heart failure.

Serious side effects of Actos

Along with its needed effects, pioglitazone (the active ingredient contained in Actos) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking pioglitazone:

More common side effects

• chest pain
• decreased urine output
• dilated neck veins
• extreme fatigue
• irregular breathing
• irregular heartbeat
• problems with teeth
• swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs
• tightness in the chest
• trouble breathing
• weight gain

Less common side effects

• pain or swelling in the arms or legs without an injury
• pale skin
• swelling
• trouble with breathing when active
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• unusual tiredness or weakness

Incidence not known

• dark urine
• loss of appetite
• nausea or vomiting
• stomach pain
• unexplained, rapid weight gain
• yellow eyes or skin

Other side effects of Actos

Some side effects of pioglitazone may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common side effects

• blurred vision or other changes in vision
• cough
• dry mouth
• flushed, dry skin
• fruit-like breath odor
• headache
• increased hunger
• increased thirst
• increased urination
• loss of consciousness
• muscle pain or soreness
• problems with your teeth
• runny or stuffy nose
• sore throat
• stomachache
• sweating
• unexplained weight loss

For healthcare professionals

Applies to pioglitazone: oral tablet.

General adverse events

The most commonly reported side effects were hypoglycemia, increased weight, edema, and upper respiratory tract infection.^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Frequency not reported: Hypersensitivity and allergic reactions^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Very common (10% or more): Hypoglycemia (up to 27.3%), increased weight (up to 26.2%)^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Very common (greater than 10%): Edema
• Common (1% to 10%): Congestive heart failure (including nonfatal and fatal cases), cardiac failure, chest pain^[Ref]

In the PROactive trial, a study in 5238 patients with type 2 diabetes and a history of macrovascular disease who were force-uptitrated to pioglitazone 45 mg once a day or given placebo in addition to standard of care, edema occurred in 27.3% of patients treated with pioglitazone (n=2605) compared with 15.9% of placebo (n=2633) patients. Treatment-emergent adverse events leading to at least 1 hospitalized congestive heart failure event occurred in 5.7% of patients receiving pioglitazone and 4.1% of patients receiving placebo.

The primary objective of the 3-year PROactive trial was to examine the effect of pioglitazone on mortality and macrovascular morbidity in high-risk patients. No statistically significant difference between pioglitazone and placebo/standard care were observed for time to the first occurrence of their first event (all-cause mortality, nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI) including silent MI, stroke, acute coronary syndrome, cardiac intervention including coronary artery bypass grafting or percutaneous intervention, major leg amputation above the ankle, and bypass surgery or revascularization in the leg). A total of 514 patients receiving pioglitazone experienced at least 1 event compared with 572 patients receiving placebo/standard care.

Pioglitazone is associated with edema (peripheral, generalized, and pitting edema and fluid retention) when used alone or when used in combination therapy. In pioglitazone monotherapy trials, edema occurred in 2.5% (n=81), 4.7% (n=275), and 6.5% (n=169) of patients receiving 15 mg, 30 mg, and 45 mg of pioglitazone daily for 16 to 26 weeks. Pioglitazone in combination with a sulfonylurea for 16 to 24 weeks resulted in edema in 1.6% (n=184), 11.3% (n=540), and 23.1% (n=351) of patients receiving 15 mg, 30 mg, and 45 mg of pioglitazone daily, respectively. In a study in patients with NYHA class II or III heart failure the percentage of patients experiencing CHF progression during the study was 13.4% and 8.2% in patients receiving pioglitazone (n=262) and glyburide (n=256), respectively.

Postmarketing reports of congestive heart failure have been received in patients treated with pioglitazone. Reports have been received from patients both with and without a history of a known history of heart disease and both with and without concomitant insulin use.^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Frequency not reported: Small reduction in mean hemoglobin and hematocrit^[Ref]

Ocular

• Common (1% to 10%): Visual disturbance, abnormal vision
• Frequency not reported: Macular edema^[Ref]

Visual disturbances have been reported early in treatment and may be related to changes in blood glucose due to temporary alteration in the turgidity and refractive index of the lens. Macular edema has been reported postmarketing in patients taking pioglitazone (the active ingredient contained in Actos) or another thiazolidinedione. Some patients presented with blurred vision or decreased visual acuity, although some were diagnosed on routine ophthalmologic examination. Most patients had peripheral edema at time of diagnosis. Some patients improved with drug discontinuation.^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Increased alanine aminotransferase
• Frequency not reported: Decreased mean values of bilirubin, AST, alkaline phosphatase, and GGT
• Postmarketing reports: Fatal and nonfatal hepatic failure, hepatocellular dysfunction^[Ref]

Postmarketing reports of fatal and nonfatal hepatic failure have been received in patients treated with this drug; these reports have been insufficient to establish causality. During clinical trials, there was no evidence of drug-induced hepatotoxicity.^[Ref]

Other

• Common (1% to 10%): Fatigue, accidental injury, peripheral edema, asthenia, malaise^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Common (1% to 10%): Tooth disorder, tooth abscess, gastroenteritis, diarrhea, upper abdominal pain^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Common (1% to 10%): Urinary tract infection^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Common (1% to 10%): Fractures, myalgia, pain in extremity, back pain, cramped legs, arthralgia^[Ref]

In the prospective pioglitazone clinical trial in macrovascular events (PROactive), the incidence of bone fractures in female patients with this drug was 5.1% (44/870) compared to 2.5% (23/905) for placebo treated patients. The majority of fractures were nonvertebral including lower limb and distal upper limb. The incidence in men was 1.7% and no different than placebo (2.1%).^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Common (1% to 10%): Headache, Hypoesthesia^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Insomnia^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Very common (10% or more): Upper respiratory tract infection (up to 13.2%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Sinusitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis, influenza^[Ref]

Oncologic

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Bladder cancer^[Ref]

The US FDA has released results of its review of pioglitazone and bladder cancer and concluded that the data suggests use of this drug may be linked to an increase risk of bladder cancer. A 10-year prospective cohort study in diabetic patients performed by the manufacturer (n=158,918 never users; n=34,181 ever users) identified 1075 newly diagnosed cases of bladder cancer in never users and 186 cases in ever users. The fully adjusted hazard ratio (HR) showed pioglitazone use was not associated with an increased risk (HR 1.06 (95% confidence interval 0.89 to 1.26). And while a modest trend towards higher risk with increasing duration was observed, this trend was not statistically significant. Compared to the interim 5-year results, the 10-year results found weaker associations that were not statistically significant. However, there are studies that have shown a statistically significant association between exposure to this drug and bladder cancer and an association between cumulative dose or cumulative duration of exposure and bladder cancer. Overall, this drug may be associated with an increase in the risk of urinary bladder tumors, however there is insufficient data to determine whether this drug is a tumor promoter for urinary bladder tumors.^[Ref]

Further information

Actos side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

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