Common use

Avandia is an oral diabetes medicine that helps control blood sugar levels. Avandia is used together with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Avandia is not for treating type 1 diabetes.

Dosage and direction

Take Avandia exactly as prescribed by your doctor. You may take Avandia with or without food. Usual Adult Dose for Diabetes Type 2: Initial dose - 4 mg orally once a day; Maintenance dose - If inadequate response is not achieved after 8 to 12 weeks, increase to 8 mg/day; Maximum dose - 8 mg/day. May take as a single daily dose or in 2 divided doses.

Precautions

Avandia is not recommended for use with insulin. Taking this medicine while you are using insulin may increase your risk of serious heart problems.
To make sure Avandia is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had: congestive heart failure or heart disease; a heart attack or stroke; eye problems caused by diabetes; or liver disease.
Rosiglitazone may stimulate ovulation in a premenopausal woman and may increase the risk of unintended pregnancy. Talk to your doctor about your risk.
Women may be more likely to have a broken bone while using rosiglitazone. Talk with your doctor about ways to keep your bones healthy.

Contraindications

You should not use Avandia if you are allergic to rosiglitazone, or if you have: severe or uncontrolled heart failure; or diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment).
You should not breastfeed while using Avandia.
Avandia is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

Possible side effect

Call your doctor at once if you have: shortness of breath (especially when lying down), unusual tiredness, swelling, rapid weight gain; chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, nausea, sweating; pale skin, feeling light-headed or short of breath, cold hands and feet; changes in your vision; or sudden unusual pain in your hand, arm, or foot.
Common Avandia side effects may include: headache; or cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sinus pain, sneezing, sore throat.

Drug interaction

Tell your doctor if you use insulin. Taking Avandia while you are using insulin may increase your risk of serious heart problems.
Tell your doctor about all your current medicines. Many drugs can interact with rosiglitazone, especially: blood pressure medications; cholesterol medication; or heart medication.

Missed dose

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

Overdose

You may have signs of low blood sugar, such as extreme weakness, blurred vision, sweating, trouble speaking, tremors, stomach pain, confusion, and seizure (convulsions). Seek emergency medical attention.

Storage

Store this medicine in the original bottle at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use. Keep away from children.