Pioglitazone Not Available?

[steamwolf]

I've just had a letter from my surgery informing me that "Pioglitazone is no longer available for us to issue". I've had a look on the NICE web site, and its not been dis-approved by them, so I'm at a loss (well sort of) as to why this drug has been removed from my medication, especially as after my Hba1c test in Sept/October it we recommended that I INCREASE the daily dose. My latest Hba1c test, from 18th December shows an 'Improving' blood sugar level.
I have been offered NO explanation as to why pioglitazone has been removed, and I have not been offered any alternative like rosiglitazone. My suspicious mind is thinking that this is a cost cutting measure!
What do others think?

 

[Daibell]

The glitazone family of drugs is now generally deprecated as it has some known bad side-effects for some. It does do a good job I gather for diabetes but when I was offered it a few years back by my GP I refused due to it's water retention side effects and she put me on Sitagliptin which is generally safe, but with side-effects for a very few. It sounds like NICE needs to make a clear decision on this.