Prescription Name: Avandia

*NOTE* Avandia is a medication that should only be taken when prescribed by a doctor. Please note I don't recommend taking Avandia without a prior prescription from your doctor and cannot be held responsible for any problems that occur from taking Avandia. This information is provided for information purposes and is not intended as a substitues to professional advice *NOTE*

Active Ingrediant in Avandia: Rosiglitazone

Uses for taking Avandia
Avandia, in addition to diet and exercise, improves blood sugar control in adults with type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes. Avandia can be used alone or in combination with a sulfonylurea or metformin, when diet, exercise, and one of these agents or diet, exercise, plus Avandia alone are not enough to control blood sugar.

Possible Avandia Side Effects:

• Cough or cold
• Headache
• Inflammation of the sinuses
• Back pain
• Swelling or fluid retention

Things to be cautious of while taking Avandia:
In drug testing, Avandia did not cause liver toxicity or an increase in liver enzymes. However, Avandia is in the same class of drugs as Rezulin, which has been associated with rare but serious liver injury, including liver failure leading to transplant or death.

Because Avandia’s liver safety profile is not fully determined yet, your doctor will do blood tests that evaluate your liver before starting you on Avandia. These blood tests should be repeated every two months for the first year, then regularly after that.

Call your health care provider right away if you develop nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, a feeling of tiredness, or having no energy, loss of appetite, dark urine, or jaundice (yellow coloring of eyes and skin). These may be symptoms of liver problems.

When taking Avandia with other oral diabetes medicines, there is a risk of your blood sugar becoming dangerously low. Ask your health care provider abut symptoms of low blood sugar, conditions that make low blood sugar more likely, and what to do if you get it. Make sure to explain to family members.

If you are a woman who has not reached menopause but have not had menstrual periods; you may become pregnant unless you use an effective method of birth control. Avandia, like other drugs in this class, may cause insulin resistant women to start ovulating again.

Women should tell their doctor if they notice any changes in their monthly menstrual cycle.

During periods of stress on the body, such as fever, trauma, infection, or surgery, your medication requirements may change; contact your health care provider promptly.

Managing your diabetes should include diet control. Caloric restriction, weight loss as needed, and exercise are essential for the proper treatment of diabetes because they help improve insulin sensitivity and the effectiveness of drug therapy.

As with most medications, do not drive until you are certain to how you react to the drug.

Drinking alcohol while taking Avandia is definitely not recommended.

For more information on Diabetes, visit this Diabetes site to learn more.