Diador®

Patient Information

It is an anti-diabetic medicine used to treat type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes mellitus in adults, when metformin is not suitable or has failed to work adequately. This is the diabetes that usually develops in adulthood.

What Diador^® is used for:

• Pioglitazone tablets help control the level of sugar in your blood when you have type 2
• diabetes by helping your body make better use of the insulin it produces. Your doctor will check whether Pioglitazone is working 3 to 6 months after you start taking it.
• Pioglitazone tablets may be used on their own in patients who are unable to take metformin, and where treatment with diet and exercise has failed to control blood sugar or may be added to other therapies (such as insulin) which have failed to provide sufficient control in blood sugar.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist before using Diador^® if :

• You retain water (fluid retention) or have heart problems in particular.
• You are over 75 years old.
• You take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines which can also cause water (fluid retention) and swelling, including celecoxib or etoricoxib, you must also tell your doctor.
• You have ever had blood in your urine.
• You smoke (or have smoked in the past), have received chemotherapy or radiotherapy (for cancer treatment).
• You have a special type of diabetic eye disease called macular oedema
• You have cysts on your ovaries (polycystic ovary syndrome).
• You have a problem with your liver or heart.

Know all the medicines you take. Keep a list of them with you to show your doctor and pharmacist.

Who should not take Diador^®:

• If you are allergic to pioglitazone or any of the other ingredients of this medicine.
• If you have heart failure or have had heart failure in the past.
• If you have liver disease.
• If you have had diabetic ketoacidosis (a complication of diabetes causing rapid weight loss.

nausea or vomiting).

• If you have or have ever had bladder cancer.
• If you have blood in your urine that your doctor has not checked.

How to take your Diador^®:

• Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
• Swallow your tablet with a glass of water with or without food.
• Your doctor will ask you to have blood tests periodically during treatment with Pioglitazone. This is to check that your liver is working normally.
• If you are following a diabetic diet, you should continue with this while you are taking Pioglitazone.
• Your weight should be checked at regular intervals; if your weight increases, inform your doctor.

What to do if you forget to take a dose :

Take Pioglitazone daily as prescribed. However if you miss a dose, just carry on with the next dose as

normal. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.

 While taking your medicine :

• You should not take pioglitazone if you are breast-feeding as it is not known whether it may be present in the milk.
• Pioglitazone will not normally affect your ability to drive or use machines but take care if you experience abnormal vision.
• Pioglitazone should be used every day to work properly. If you stop using Pioglitazone, your blood sugar may go up. Talk to your doctor before stopping this treatment.
• You find blood in your urine or have other problems urinating while taking pioglitazone, you should contact your doctor

What to do if you take too many tablets :

If you accidentally take too many tablets, or if someone else or a child takes your medicine, contact your doctor or hospital emergency department immediately. Your blood sugar could fall below the normal level and can be increased by taking sugar. It is recommended that you carry some sugar lumps, sweets, biscuits or sugary fruit juice.

Side effects :

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. If you notice any of the following side effects, stop taking this medicine and contact your doctor or go to the nearest hospital casualty department straight away.

• Heart failure (when taking pioglitazone in combination with insulin).
• Bladder cancer
• Localised swelling (oedema) (when taking pioglitazone in combination with insulin).
• Broken bones.
• Blurred vision due to swelling (or fluid) at the back of the eye.
• Allergic reactions: symptoms of a serious allergic reaction include hives and swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat that may cause difficulty in breathing or swallowing.

Other possible side effects:

Common: abnormal vision, respiratory infection, weight gain, numbness.

Uncommon: inflammation of the sinuses (sinusitis), difficulty sleeping (insomnia).

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed here.

You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.dorsapharma.com/ (ADR form)

By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.