User:Mr. Ibrahem/Pioglitazone

Pioglitazone, sold under the brand name Actos among others, is a medication used to treat type 2 diabetes. It may be used with metformin, a sulfonylurea, or insulin. Use is recommended together with exercise and diet. It is not recommended in type 1 diabetes. It is taken by mouth.

Common side effects include headaches, muscle pains, inflammation of the throat, and swelling. Serious side effects may include bladder cancer, low blood sugar, heart failure, and osteoporosis. Use in not recommended in pregnancy or breastfeeding. It is in the thiazolidinedione (TZD) class and works by improving sensitivity of tissues to insulin.

Pioglitazone was patented in 1985, and came into medical use in 1999. It is available as a generic medication. A month supply in the United Kingdom costs the NHS less than £1 as of 2019. In the United States the wholesale cost of this amount is about US$3.20. In 2017, it was the 125th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than five million prescriptions. It was withdrawn in France and Germany in 2011.