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Avandamet, |Avandamet

Avandamet

Generic Name: metformin and rosiglitazone (met FOR min and roh si GLI ta zone)
Brand Names: Avandamet

What is metformin and rosiglitazone?

Metformin and rosiglitazone is a combination of two oral diabetes medicines that help control blood sugar levels.

Metformin and rosiglitazone is for people with type 2 diabetes who do not use daily insulin injections. This medication is not for treating type 1 diabetes.

Metformin and rosiglitazone may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about metformin and rosiglitazone?

Before taking metformin and rosiglitazone, tell your doctor if you have congestive heart failure or heart disease, a history of heart attack or stroke, liver disease, or eye problems caused by diabetes.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking metformin and rosiglitazone?

You may be more likely to develop lactic acidosis if you have congestive heart failure. Older adults may have a higher risk of developing lactic acidosis. Talk with your doctor about your individual risk.

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have congestive heart failure or heart disease, a history of heart attack or stroke, liver disease, or eye problems caused by diabetes. You may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

How should I take metformin and rosiglitazone?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor.

Metformin and rosiglitazone is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes diet, exercise, and weight control. It is important to use this medicine regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.

To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Your kidney or liver function may also need to be tested, and you may need regular eye exams. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

Your medication needs may change if you become sick or injured, if you have a serious infection, or if you have any type of surgery. Your doctor may want you to stop taking metformin and rosiglitazone for a short time if any of these situations affect you.

Take care not to let your blood sugar get too low, causing hypoglycemia. You may have hypoglycemia if you skip a meal, exercise too long, drink alcohol, or are under stress.

• hunger, headache, confusion, irritability;

• drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, tremors;

• sweating, fast heartbeat;

• seizure (convulsions); or

• fainting, coma (severe hypoglycemia can be fatal).

Always keep a source of sugar available in case you have symptoms of low blood sugar. Sugar sources include orange juice, glucose gel, candy, or milk. If you have severe hypoglycemia and cannot eat or drink, use an injection of glucagon. Your doctor can give you a prescription for a glucagon emergency injection kit and tell you how to give the injection.

Your doctor may have you take extra vitamin B12 while you are taking metformin and rosiglitazone. Take only the amount of vitamin B12 that your doctor has prescribed.

If you need to have any type of x-ray or CT scan using a dye that is injected into your veins, you may need to temporarily stop taking metformin and rosiglitazone. Be sure the surgeon knows ahead of time that you are using this medication.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember (be sure to take the medicine with food). If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

What should I avoid while taking metformin and rosiglitazone?

Metformin and rosiglitazone side effects

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion;

• swelling or rapid weight gain;

• fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms; or

• nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Other less serious side effects may be more likely to occur, such as:

• sneezing, runny nose, cough or other signs of a cold;

• back pain, joint or muscle pain;

• headache; or

• mild diarrhea.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect metformin and rosiglitazone?

You may be more likely to have hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) if you are taking metformin and rosiglitazone with other drugs that raise blood sugar. Drugs that can raise blood sugar include:

• isoniazid;

• diuretics (water pills);

• steroids (prednisone and others);

• phenothiazines (Compazine and others);

• thyroid medicine (Synthroid and others);

• birth control pills and other hormones;

• seizure medicines (Dilantin and others); and

• diet pills or medicines to treat asthma, colds or allergies.

You may be more likely to have hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) if you are taking metformin and rosiglitazone with other drugs that lower blood sugar. Drugs that can lower blood sugar include:

• some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs);

• aspirin or other salicylates (including Pepto-Bismol);

• sulfa drugs (Bactrim and others);

• a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI);

• beta-blockers (Tenormin and others); or

• probenecid (Benemid).

Some medications may interact with metformin and rosiglitazone. Tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

• gemfibrozil (Gemcor);

• rifampin (Rifater, Rifadin, Rimactane);

• nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia);

• cimetidine (Tagamet) or ranitidine (Zantac);

• amiloride (Midamor) or triamterene (Dyrenium);

• digoxin (Lanoxin);

• morphine (MS Contin, Kadian, Oramorph);

• procainamide (Procan, Pronestyl, Procanbid);

• quinidine (Cardioquin, Quinidex, Quinaglute);

• trimethoprim (Proloprim, Primsol, Bactrim, Cotrim, Septra); or

• vancomycin (Vancocin, Lyphocin).

If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to take metformin and rosiglitazone, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring.

There may be other drugs not listed that can affect metformin and rosiglitazone. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist has information about metformin and rosiglitazone written for health professionals that you may read.

What does my medication look like?

Metformin and rosiglitazone is available with a prescription under the brand name Avandamet. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.

• Avandamet 1 mg/500 mg (rosiglitazone/metformin)-yellow, oval, film-coated tablets

• Avandamet 2 mg/500 mg (rosiglitazone/metformin)-pale pink, oval, film-coated tablets

• Avandamet 4 mg/500 mg (rosiglitazone/metformin)-orange, oval, film-coated tablets

• Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
• Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ("Multum") is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum"s drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum"s drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.