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Metformin and pioglitazone
  • Treatments
  • Diabetes
  • Type 2

Metformin and pioglitazone

Generic name: metformin and pioglitazone [ met-FOR-min-and-PYE-o-GLI-ta-zone ]
Brand names: Actoplus Met, Actoplus Met XR
Dosage forms: oral tablet (500 mg-15 mg; 850 mg-15 mg); oral tablet, extended release (1000 mg-15 mg; 1000 mg-30 mg)
Drug class:Antidiabetic combinations

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com on Mar 30, 2022. Written by Cerner Multum.

What is metformin and pioglitazone?

Metformin and pioglitazone is a combination of two oral diabetes medicines that help control blood sugar levels.

Metformin and pioglitazone is used together with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus who do not use daily insulin injections. Metformin and pioglitazone is not for treating type 1 diabetes.

Metformin and pioglitazone may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Warnings

You should not use metformin and pioglitazone if you have severe heart failure, severe kidney disease, active bladder cancer, metabolic acidosis, or ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment).

Metformin and pioglitazone can cause or worsen congestive heart failure. Call your doctor at once if you have shortness of breath (even with mild exertion), swelling, or rapid weight gain.

If you need to have any type of x-ray or CT scan using a dye that is injected into your veins, you may need to temporarily stop taking metformin and pioglitazone.

You may develop lactic acidosis, a dangerous build-up of lactic acid in your blood. Call your doctor or get emergency medical help if you have unusual muscle pain, trouble breathing, stomach pain, dizziness, feeling cold, or feeling very weak or tired.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to metformin or pioglitazone, or if you have:

  • severe heart failure;

  • severe kidney disease;

  • active bladder cancer; or

  • metabolic acidosis or ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment).

If you need to have surgery or any type of x-ray or CT scan using a dye that is injected into your veins, you may need to temporarily stop taking metformin and pioglitazone. Be sure your caregivers know ahead of time that you are using this medicine.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

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