• Basic Info
• Top Questions
• Clinical Info
• Interactions

What is rosiglitazone?
Rosiglitazone is an oral diabetes medicine that helps control blood sugar levels. Rosiglitazone is for people with type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes. Rosiglitazone is sometimes used in combination with insulin or other medications, but it is not for treating type 1 diabetes. Rosiglitazone may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

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What is the price of this medication and similar alternatives?

This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit drugstore.com.

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What are the possible side effects of rosiglitazone?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using rosiglitazone and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion;

• swelling or rapid weight gain;

• chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, sweating, general ill feeling;

• nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

• blurred vision;

• increased thirst or hunger, urinating more than usual; or

• pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding, weakness.

Less serious side effects may include:

• sneezing, runny nose, cough or other signs of a cold;

• headache;

• gradual weight gain;

• mild diarrhea; or

• back pain.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

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How should I take rosiglitazone?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger or smaller amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this medication. Rosiglitazone is usually taken in the morning and evening. You may take the medicine with or without food. Rosiglitazone is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes diet, exercise, and weight control. Your doctor may also recommend other medicines to treat your diabetes.

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What is the most important information I should know about rosiglitazone?
Do not use rosiglitazone if you have type 1 diabetes, or if you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment with insulin). Before taking rosiglitazone, tell your doctor if you have congestive heart failure or heart disease, a history of heart attack or stroke, liver disease, or eye problems caused by diabetes. Know the signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and how to recognize them, including hunger, headache, confusion, irritability, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, tremors, sweating, fast heartbeat, seizure (convulsions), fainting, or coma (severe hypoglycemia can be fatal). Always keep a source of sugar available in case you have symptoms of low blood sugar.

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What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

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What other drugs will affect rosiglitazone?
You may be more likely to have hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) if you are taking rosiglitazone with other drugs that raise blood sugar. Drugs that can raise blood sugar include: isoniazid; diuretics (water pills); steroids (prednisone and others); phenothiazines (Compazine and others); thyroid medicine (Synthroid and others); birth control pills and other hormones; seizure medicines (Dilantin and others); and diet pills or medicines to treat asthma, colds or allergies. You may be more likely to have hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) if you are taking rosiglitazone with other drugs that lower blood sugar. Drugs that can lower blood sugar include:

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Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?

Rosiglitazone has been assigned to pregnancy category C by the FDA. Animal studies have not revealed evidence of teratogenicity. Treatment during mid to late gestation was associated with fetal death and growth retardation in both rats and rabbits. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. Rosiglitazone is only recommended for use during pregnancy when benefit outweighs risk.

There are no data on the excretion of rosiglitazone into human milk. The manufacturer recommends that due to the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants, a decision should be made to discontinue nursing or discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.

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Who should NOT use this medication?

• Initiation of therapy in patients with NYHA class III or IV CHF. (See Boxed Warning.)

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What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. You may have signs of low blood sugar, such as hunger, headache, confusion, irritability, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, tremors, sweating, fast heartbeat, seizure (convulsions), fainting, or coma.

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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking rosiglitazone?
Do not use rosiglitazone if you have type 1 diabetes, or if you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment with insulin). Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have: congestive heart failure or heart disease; a history of heart attack or stroke; liver disease; or eye problems caused by diabetes. If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use this medication. Some women using rosiglitazone have started having menstrual periods, even after not having a period for a long time due to a medical condition. You may be able to get pregnant if your periods restart. Talk with your doctor about the need for birth control.

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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
As a general rule, you should always take your medications exactly as prescribed and do not change the dosage or stop taking the medication without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.

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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.

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Where can I get more information?
More Information

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