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Are there any interactions with Actos?

Actos (generic name pioglitazone) is a medicine for treating people with type 2 diabetes. Actos helps control blood sugar by making the body more sensitive to insulin.

Since Actos is still a relatively new drug, there is limited information about its drug interactions. There are no reported drug interactions with Actos. But, it may lower the effectiveness of birth control pills. If you take Actos and birth control pills, be sure to use another form of contraception such as a condom. Also, Actos can increase the chance of pregnancy in premenopausal women who haven't been ovulating by causing ovulation to resume.

Other potential drug interactions include erythromycin, calcium channel blockers, corticosteroids such as prednisone, and cholesterol drugs referred to as statins. Certain medicines such as ketoconazole (Nizoral) or itraconazole (Sporanox) may increase the effects of Actos, so blood glucose should be monitored closely. There are also several interactions possible with alternative medicines, so be sure to talk with your doctor regarding any herbal medicines you are taking.

Due to potential heart risks for some people taking Actos, people should ask their doctor about the benefits and risks of this medication but should not stop taking any prescribed medications without first discussing the issue with their healthcare provider.

Sources:
Actos product information, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, 2007.
Drug Facts and Comparisons, Facts & Comparisons, 2007.
Micromedex® Healthcare Series. Thomson Micromedex, 2007.
Schoonjans, K. "Thiazolidinediones: an update", The Lancet 335 (2000).

This answer prepared 5/11/2000.
This information updated 6/11/2007.