Started Avandamet today

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-26-2004
Started Avandamet today
3
Thu, 05-20-2004 - 12:36pm

Yesterday I called my dr because my ankles were swollen.  He took me off the Actos and put me on the Avandamet.  I'm familiar with the metformin, but haven't a clue about the other med. 


Can anyone give me some advice on this--what to expect?  I know meds work differently on different people, but I'd love to hear anything you have to say.

Nancy

Nancy

 


iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2003
Thu, 05-20-2004 - 2:14pm
I've been on Avandamet for a little over a week now. The only med I've ever been on. I started last Tues in the mid-300's and when I tested today before going to the doc again, I was in the high 100 (170-smth). I don't know a lot about it, but i haven't noticed any particular side effects and I know that its a combination of Avandia and Metformin and its made so that you can basically take it any time and not worry too much about crashing and all that.

~Christie

Please tune in later for a new signature. :)
~Christie

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2003
Thu, 05-20-2004 - 2:18pm
Pulled from Avandamet's website:

What are the side effects of Avandamet?

In rare cases, metformin, one of the drugs in Avandamet, can cause a serious side effect called lactic acidosis. This is caused by a buildup of lactic acid in your blood. This buildup can cause serious damage. Lactic acidosis is a medical emergency that must be treated in a hospital. Lactic acidosis is rare and has occurred mostly in people whose kidneys were not working normally. Lactic acidosis has been reported in about 1 in 33,000 patients taking metformin over the course of a year. Although rare, if lactic acidosis does occur, it can be fatal in up to half the people who develop it.

Signs of lactic acidosis:

feeling very weak, tired, or uncomfortable (malaise)

unusual muscle pain

unusual sleepiness

rapid breathing that you can't explain

unusual or unexpected stomach problems (such as nausea or vomiting)

low body temperature

feeling dizzy or light-headed

suddenly having a slow or uneven heartbeat

It is also important for your liver to be working normally when you take Avandamet. Your liver helps remove lactic acid from your blood. Before you take Avandamet and while you take it, your doctor will test your blood to check for signs of serious liver problems. Very rarely, serious liver problems have been reported with rosiglitazone, one of the drugs in Avandamet.

Signs of serious liver problems:

nausea or vomiting

stomach pain

unusual or unexplained tiredness

loss of appetite

dark urine

yellowing of your skin or whites of your eyes

Make sure you tell your doctor before you use Avandamet if you have kidney or liver problems. You should stop using Avandamet and call your doctor right away if you have signs of lactic acidosis or serious liver problems (see above).

Avandamet may cause fluid retention or swelling, which could lead to heart failure or make heart failure worse, so tell your doctor if you have a history of heart failure or swelling (edema) or if you have any of the following:

swelling or fluid retention, especially of the ankles or legs

shortness of breath or trouble breathing, especially when you lie down

unusual tiredness

an unusually rapid increase in weight

If your medical condition suddenly changes, stop taking Avandamet and call your doctor right away.

Other Side Effects. Common side effects of Avandamet are diarrhea, nausea, and upset stomach. These side effects usually occur during the first few weeks of therapy. Taking Avandamet with meals can help reduce these side effects. Stomach problems when you first take Avandamet are common. However, stomach problems that start up later may be a sign of something more serious and should be discussed with your doctor. Other common side effects are cold-like symptoms, headache, weight gain, and anemia.

There is a small risk of developing low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) while taking Avandamet. Lightheadedness, dizziness, shakiness or hunger may indicate that your blood sugar is too low. This can happen if you skip meals, if you use another medicine that lowers blood sugar, or if you have certain medical problems.

Please tune in later for a new signature. :)
~Christie

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-26-2004
Thu, 05-20-2004 - 2:36pm
Thanks for the info.

Nancy