Pioglitazone

Pronounced pye-oh-GLIT-ah-zone

Brand names: Actos

Type: Thiazolidinedione (diabetes medicine) · All Diabetes Medicines

What Pioglitazone is used for

  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Fatty liver disease with diabetes, on specialist advice

◆ Kidney note

No dose change is needed for kidney function, but the fluid retention it causes can be a problem in kidney disease and heart failure.

Common side effects

  • Weight gain
  • Swelling of legs or ankles
  • Headache
  • Muscle pain

Important cautions

  • Can cause or worsen heart failure through fluid retention — report new breathlessness or rapid weight gain
  • Can weaken bones and raise fracture risk, especially in women

How it comes

Tablets. This guide lists forms only — it never lists strengths or doses.

Condition guides on MedicalVideos.com

Please note: This page is a patient-education summary, not medical advice, and it deliberately contains no doses. Medicines affect everyone differently — always follow your own prescription and talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.