Anyone else been on Metamorfin and Pioglitazone? Did not get a clear understanding of why I was prescribed Pioglitazone in addition to Metamorfin? My readings were fine with just metamorfin. Had a heart attack 2 years after starting on Pioglitazone, although my Diabetes and cholesterol levels were doing fine.
Pioglitazone
- Thread starter ranmis
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SockFiddler
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Heya, @ranmis and welcome!
Before I go any further, let me tag in @daisy1 who has lots of lovely info that you might find useful.
Okay so I'm neither pharmacist nor GP nor DN. The first thing I did was google the medication:
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-medication/diabetes-and-actos.html
The second thing was to remind myself that I'm neither a GP nor a pharmacist nor a DN.
And with that disclaimer loudly ringing in the background, here's what I want to say (though your post is a little unclear as to the timings of things, so apologies if I've misunderstood something).
You had control with Metformin (and diet or just Met?)
You went onto Pioglitazone 2 years ago, and then had a heart attack.
Post heart attack, you're still on both drugs.
The link above (this own site's info, which I trust) says:
Now wait, take a breath - remember the three important things I am not. What I am is a concerned but complete stranger online who has found information from a reputable source and is sharing it with you. This does not mean you are going to get cancer. Or that your GP is trying to kill you. Or that even you're on the medication of doom. Just, simply, that I found information and shared it.
What you should do now is go and have a chat with your GP - and include this information as well as your own feelings and concerns.
But, also, welcome to the community - please look around, hang out, get comfy. It's lovely to have you - and, again, though the quotes were potentially worrying, I am not someone with any authority to give knowledgeable advice either about drugs and treatment or about your specific healthcare.
Before I go any further, let me tag in @daisy1 who has lots of lovely info that you might find useful.
Okay so I'm neither pharmacist nor GP nor DN. The first thing I did was google the medication:
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-medication/diabetes-and-actos.html
The second thing was to remind myself that I'm neither a GP nor a pharmacist nor a DN.
And with that disclaimer loudly ringing in the background, here's what I want to say (though your post is a little unclear as to the timings of things, so apologies if I've misunderstood something).
You had control with Metformin (and diet or just Met?)
You went onto Pioglitazone 2 years ago, and then had a heart attack.
Post heart attack, you're still on both drugs.
The link above (this own site's info, which I trust) says:
Now wait, take a breath - remember the three important things I am not. What I am is a concerned but complete stranger online who has found information from a reputable source and is sharing it with you. This does not mean you are going to get cancer. Or that your GP is trying to kill you. Or that even you're on the medication of doom. Just, simply, that I found information and shared it.
What you should do now is go and have a chat with your GP - and include this information as well as your own feelings and concerns.
But, also, welcome to the community - please look around, hang out, get comfy. It's lovely to have you - and, again, though the quotes were potentially worrying, I am not someone with any authority to give knowledgeable advice either about drugs and treatment or about your specific healthcare.
Hey SockFiddler
Thank you so much for your response. I did read this about Pioglitazone, after I had my heart attack. Since then Pioglitazone has been discontinued. However, Since then, I am trying to understand why was I ever prescribed Pioglitazone? When my wife asked my GP for the reason he got really annoyed and asked me not be bring her along from the next appointment
All she wanted to know was the trend of my blood glucose levels and the reason for prescribing the actos.
My main concern was the side effects of Pioglitazone that I have been reading and beginning to feel that it was this medication that caused my heart attack.
Thank you so much for your response. I did read this about Pioglitazone, after I had my heart attack. Since then Pioglitazone has been discontinued. However, Since then, I am trying to understand why was I ever prescribed Pioglitazone? When my wife asked my GP for the reason he got really annoyed and asked me not be bring her along from the next appointment
All she wanted to know was the trend of my blood glucose levels and the reason for prescribing the actos.My main concern was the side effects of Pioglitazone that I have been reading and beginning to feel that it was this medication that caused my heart attack.
Bluetit1802
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Did you have any heart problems before your heart attack? If so, your doctor should not have prescribed it.
Side effects include cardiac failure and exacerbation of congestive heart failure
https://www.drugs.com/sfx/actos-side-effects.html
Guzzler
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I do hope you considered changing your GP.
He or she may have been annoyed by being questioned but more likely because no doctor enjoys being found to have made a mistake and some don't like it even though it was never a case of culpability.
I hope that you have made a full recovery.
He or she may have been annoyed by being questioned but more likely because no doctor enjoys being found to have made a mistake and some don't like it even though it was never a case of culpability.
I hope that you have made a full recovery.
No heart problems at all until this heart attack in November. Was on Pioglitazone for 2 years before that, along with metamorfin. Before they started me on Pioglitazone my Diabetes was under control with just metamorfin. But the GP is unable to explain why I was ever prescribed Pioglitazone. Im sure there would have been a major change in the blood glucose levels to suddenly add another medication.
But instead of explaining us the reason he almost asked my wife to 'get out'
But instead of explaining us the reason he almost asked my wife to 'get out'
Well it appears that no one on this forum has ever been on Pioglitazone. That makes me even more curious to get the answer to my question - why was I prescribed Pioglitazone if it has such dangerous side effects? How come no one else has been on it?
A few years ago Pioglitazone was still being prescribed and I can remember posts on the forum from people taking it; even my GP offered it to me about 6 years ago. It has been deprecated for several years as it does have some serious side effects. It was popular as it did work quite well for the diabetes. I don't believe anyone should now be taking it?
SockFiddler
Well-Known Member
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- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
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- Tablets (oral)
Diabell, when you say few years ago, do you know when? The reason I am asking is because I was started on it 2 years ago. But it sounds like its dangers were known before that.
SockFiddler
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 623
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
Here. Some googling.
https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/pioglitazone.html
https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-ri...n-if-youre-unhappy-with-your-gp-or-gp-surgery
Again, I'm just some random idiot on the 'net who is finding links from reputable sources and passing them along. I'm suggesting no specific course of action, I'm not advising you on medicinal decisions. But I do think both those links are relevant to you.
Best wishes,
Sock x
https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/pioglitazone.html
https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-ri...n-if-youre-unhappy-with-your-gp-or-gp-surgery
Again, I'm just some random idiot on the 'net who is finding links from reputable sources and passing them along. I'm suggesting no specific course of action, I'm not advising you on medicinal decisions. But I do think both those links are relevant to you.
Best wishes,
Sock x
Hi. I think I became aware of the possible side effects 3 to 4 years ago via this forum and Googling the web and I refused my GP prescribing it due to the water accumulation risk. The problem is that all drugs have side effects e.g. Sitagliptin which I took instead of the Glitazone also has rare but serious side effects. I wouldn't blame any GP about this but it's a reminder to always do your own homework on any prescribed drugs.
daisy1
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@ranmis
Hello ranmis and welcome to the Forum
Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope it will be useful for you. Ask as many questions as you want and someone will be able to help.
BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS
Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.
A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 235,000 people who are demonstrating this.
On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.
The role of carbohydrate
Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.
If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.
The bad news
Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.
The good news
People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.
Controlling your carbs
The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:
A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.
The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.
Choosing better carbohydrates
The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.
Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.
Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.
Eating what works for you
Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.
To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.
The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:
Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
Access to blood glucose test strips
The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:
Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.
You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.
Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of these are free.
Hello ranmis and welcome to the Forum
Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope it will be useful for you. Ask as many questions as you want and someone will be able to help.BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS
Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.
A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 235,000 people who are demonstrating this.
On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.
The role of carbohydrate
Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.
If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.
The bad news
Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.
The good news
People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.
Controlling your carbs
The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:
- Reduce your carbohydrate intake
- Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates
A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.
The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.
Choosing better carbohydrates
The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.
Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.
Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.
Eating what works for you
Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.
To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.
The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:
Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
- Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
- Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
- Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
Access to blood glucose test strips
The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:
- structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
- self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education
Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.
You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.
Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of these are free.
- Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why
- Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.
