Pioglitazone + Metformin: Uses, Side Effects & Brands in Pakistan
Pioglitazone + Metformin is a two-in-one diabetes medicine. It is a prescription medicine used for type 2 diabetes. In Pakistan it is available as tablets, made by 4 different manufacturers. On this page you can read how it works, its common side effects and precautions, and compare the brands and prices available at Medimart.
How Pioglitazone + Metformin works
Pioglitazone makes muscle, fat and liver cells more sensitive to the body's own insulin, so they take up more sugar from the blood. Metformin reduces the amount of sugar released by the liver and also helps the body use insulin more effectively. Their actions complement each other.
What is Pioglitazone + Metformin used for?
Pioglitazone + Metformin is used in adults with type 2 diabetes whose blood sugar is not well controlled on metformin alone. Having both medicines in one tablet reduces the number of pills to take. Better blood sugar control lowers the long-term risk of damage to the eyes, kidneys, nerves and heart, and it works best together with a healthy diet and regular exercise.
Side effects of Pioglitazone + Metformin
When starting Pioglitazone + Metformin, some people experience:
- Nausea, diarrhoea or stomach upset
- Weight gain
- Swelling of the ankles
- Metallic taste
- Headache
Get urgent medical help for breathlessness or rapid weight gain, which may signal heart failure, or for vomiting, stomach pain, muscle cramps and deep fast breathing, which can be signs of lactic acidosis. Report any blood in the urine or pain when passing urine.
Precautions and warnings
- It must not be used by people who have or have had heart failure, or by those with a history of bladder cancer.
- Tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver disease, and let the hospital know you take it before surgery or an X-ray scan with contrast dye, as metformin may need to be paused.
- Avoid drinking a lot of alcohol, as it increases the risk of lactic acidosis.
- Women taking pioglitazone have a higher risk of bone fractures, and the combination is not used in pregnancy, breastfeeding or type 1 diabetes.
- Take it with meals and keep up regular blood sugar checks and eye examinations.
Frequently asked questions about Pioglitazone + Metformin
What is the price of Pioglitazone + Metformin in Pakistan?
At Medimart, Pioglitazone + Metformin products currently in stock range from Rs 155 to Rs 525 per pack, depending on the brand, strength and pack size. The lowest-priced option right now is Piomet 850mg Tablet at Rs 155. Prices are updated regularly, so the product list on this page always shows the latest price.Which brands of Pioglitazone + Metformin are available in Pakistan?
Pioglitazone + Metformin is sold in Pakistan under brand names such as Piozer (Hilton Pharma Ltd), Pozemet (Ali Gohar Pharmaceuticals Ltd), Zolid (Getz Pharma Ltd) and Piomet (CCL Pharmaceuticals Ltd).Do I need a prescription for Pioglitazone + Metformin?
Yes. Pioglitazone + Metformin is a prescription medicine in Pakistan. Use it only when a doctor has prescribed it, at the dose and for the time they advise.
Can Pioglitazone + Metformin be used during pregnancy?
Women taking pioglitazone have a higher risk of bone fractures, and the combination is not used in pregnancy, breastfeeding or type 1 diabetes.
Are all Pioglitazone + Metformin brands the same?
Brands that contain the same amount of Pioglitazone + Metformin in the same form are expected to work in the same way, although inactive ingredients, pack sizes and prices differ. Ask your doctor or pharmacist before switching from one brand to another.
Pioglitazone + Metformin brands and prices in Pakistan
Medimart lists 6 products containing Pioglitazone + Metformin from different manufacturers. Compare strengths, pack sizes and prices below and order online with cash on delivery.
