Pioglitazone

Warning

Thiazolidinediones, including pioglitazone, cause or exacerbate congestive heart failure in some patients

Contraindications

• Initiation in patients with established NYHA Class III or IV heart failure
• Use in patients with known hypersensitivity to pioglitazone or any other component of pioglitazone tablets

Adverse Reactions

• Upper respiratory tract infection
• Headache
• Sinusitis
• Myalgia
• Pharyngitis
• Hypoglycemia
• Edema
• Weight gain
• Fractures
• Urinary bladder tumors

General Guidance

Dose adjustments may be necessary when used in combination with other antidiabetic medications or in patients with renal or hepatic impairment

Pregnancy

• Limited data available, but no adverse developmental effects observed in animal studies
• Use with caution in pregnant women, as poorly controlled diabetes can increase the risk of congenital malformations and other adverse pregnancy outcomes

Nursing Mothers

• Discuss the potential for unintended pregnancy with premenopausal women, as therapy with pioglitazone may result in ovulation in some anovulatory women

Pediatric Use

• Not recommended for use in pediatric patients due to lack of safety and efficacy data

Geriatric Use

• No significant differences in pharmacokinetic parameters observed between elderly and younger patients
• Use with caution in elderly patients, as they may be more susceptible to the adverse effects of pioglitazone