pioglitazone

I have no experience of pioglitazone, but when you have received some replies and done all the research you can, just remember it is entirely up to you whether you take it, HCPs are there to advise not order.

davd said:

My doctor has just prescribed me 15mg Of pioglitazone to be taken alongside 4 mg of glimipride as the glimipride on its own not working and metformin caused me stomach problems.
But before I take the piogliazone I am slightly worried about the risks that I have read about the drug, France and Germany have banned it and USA have a warning marker on it regarding the increased risk of bladder cancer. My nurse says it is only a small risk , but surely if 2 countries have banned it how serious is the risk.
I wonder if many of the website members have taken pioglitazone and if they had any problems with it .

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I was on it for a while I did lots a reading before hand and while like you say some countries don’t use it BUT the risk is only ‘an increased risk’

You have to offset the against the ‘increased risk’ if not having controlled diabetes.. lots of nasty things can happen

Many diabetes meds have nasty side effects lots of the GLp1’s can cause lots of gastrointestinal issues

So ultimately they choice is yours, you could raise the concerns with your GP and see what the alternatives are

They may suggest gliclazide but this can cause more problems like the risk of hypos and having to blood test and you a REQUIRED to inform DVLA and have a restricted driving license


Personally id choose the pioglitazone

Hi, yes Pioglitazone does have some side effect risk. As there are now other drugs introduced after Pio I would suggest you are prescribed one of the newer drugs citing the Pio side effects. May be your GP is not up to date in his/her knowledge?

I was on Pioglitazone for 5 years, and along with other meds it was great. But the fact it's been banned in most countries due to the bladder cancer risk, I came off it last year. My fasting BG shot up, so earlier this year I went back on it. However at my last appointment my GP took me off it, he said it's not a drug he would ever prescribe now (he's the Diabetes specialist at our practice). Currently on Glimepiride and Tirzepatide which are working well. However, as I said, Pioglitazone worked really well for me for years, and your own GP obviously has no issue with prescribing it.