Table of contents:
- Uses
- What is Duetact?
- What are the rules for drinking Duetact?
- What are the Duetact retention rules?
- Dose
- What is the dosage of Duetact (pioglitazone-glimepiride) for adult patients?
- What is the Duetact dosage for children?
- What is the Duetact dosage for the elderly?
- In what dosage and preparation is Duetact available?
- Side effects
- What are the possible side effects of consuming Duetact?
- Warnings and Precautions
- What should be known before consuming Duetact?
- Is Duetact safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women?
- Drug Interactions
- What drugs might interact with Duetact?
- Overdose
- What should I do in an emergency or overdose?
- What if I forget my medication schedule?
Uses
What is Duetact?
Duetact is an oral diabetes medication used to control diabetes in adult patients with type two diabetes. Duetact is not used to control blood sugar in type one diabetes patients. The use of this drug in combination with a diet and exercise program can help people with diabetes prevent kidney damage, blindness, nerve problems, loss of limbs, and problems with sexual function. Good diabetes control can also reduce the risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
Duetact is a drug that consists of a combination of two drugs, namely pioglitazone and glimepiride. Pioglitazone is included in the glitazone group. This drug works by restoring the body's response to insulin so that your blood sugar will drop. Meanwhile, glimepiride which is a sulfonylurea group works by increasing the release of insulin by the body.
What are the rules for drinking Duetact?
Take Duetact according to the dose given by your doctor. Follow all directions on the recipe and follow the directions for use. Usually, Duetact is taken once daily with the first large meal of the day or as directed by your doctor.
Your doctor will probably give you a low dose first at the start of treatment. The Duetact dosage is given taking into account your health condition and your body's response to treatment. This medication may take 2-3 months for maximum results. Do not stop medication or take it to exceed or reduce the dose given without consulting your doctor.
When switching from the single diabetes medication to Duetact, your doctor may ask you to have your blood sugar checked more regularly. This was done to prevent hypoglycemia attacks when taking this drug. Take this drug regularly to get the expected results. To make it easier for you to remember, take this drug at the same time every day.
What are the Duetact retention rules?
This medication is best stored at room temperature of no more than 30 degrees Celsius. Avoid from hot places and direct light. Do not store this medicine in a room that has high humidity, such as a bathroom. Keep out of reach of children and pets.
Do not flush this medication in the toilet or drain unless instructed to do so. Please discard this product when it has reached its expiration date or is no longer in use. Check with your pharmacist or your local waste disposal company regarding the safe disposal of this product.
Dose
The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.
What is the dosage of Duetact (pioglitazone-glimepiride) for adult patients?
Initial dose: 30 mg / 2 mg or 30 mg / 4 mg, once daily.
- For patients who have not successfully used single therapy with glimepiride: 30 mg / 2 mg, once daily
- For patients who have not successfully used monotherapy with pioglitazone: 30 mg / 2 mg, once daily
- For patients who have taken pioglitazone and glimepiride in their respective tablets and want to switch to Duetact: take the initial dose according to the respective doses of pioglitazone and glimepiride or the closest
- For patients who are using single therapy with another sulfonylurea class of drugs or switching from a combination of pioglitazone and sulfonylurea group drugs: 30 mg / 2 mg, once daily
- For patients with systolic dysfunction, start with pioglitazone alone and start combining it only if increasing the pioglitazone dose from 15 mg to 30 mg is shown to be tolerable by the body.
Maintenance dose: increase the dose gradually depending on the response and the body's tolerance level to each of the Duetact components, which can be seen from the fasting blood sugar levels.
Maximum dose: 30 mg / 4 mg per day
What is the Duetact dosage for children?
The dosage in pediatric patients has not been established. This medicine may not be safe for your child. Consult with your doctor regarding the use of this drug before taking it.
What is the Duetact dosage for the elderly?
1 mg per day of glimepiride (as a single therapy) or you can switch to the combined glimepiride / pioglitazone drug by continuing to observe the increase in dosage to prevent hypoglycemia.
In what dosage and preparation is Duetact available?
Tablet, Oral: 30 mg / 2 mg; 30 mg / 4 mg
Side effects
What are the possible side effects of consuming Duetact?
Remember that your doctor prescribes Duetact because they judge its benefits to outweigh any possible side effects. Headache, dizziness, diarrhea, nausea, muscle aches, sore throat, and dental problems may occur. If these symptoms do not improve, even get worse, contact your doctor immediately.
This medicine may cause hypoglycemia if you are not consuming enough calories or doing vigorous exercise. Symptoms can include cold sweat, body trembling, dizziness, drowsiness, fast heartbeat, fainting, tingling in the hands and feet, and hunger. Immediately consume food or drinks that can increase blood sugar levels quickly, such as sugar, honey, or candy.
Symptoms of hyperglycemia can also occur, such as excessive thirst, increased urination, confusion, drowsiness, flushed face, rapid breathing, and fruity breath. Tell your doctor if you experience this. You may need to increase the dosage.
Some of the side effects that can arise due to the consumption of Duetact are:
- Vision problems (seeing colors or at night)
- Pink or reddish urine, pain when urinating, or can't hold back the urge to urinate
- Unusual and sudden pain in the hand or leg
- Liver problems, which are characterized by pain in the upper abdomen, vomiting, fatigue, loss of appetite, dark colored urine, and jaundice (yellowish visible on the eyes or skin)
- Symptoms of heart failure, such as shortness of breath even when lying down, swelling of the feet or soles of the feet, rapid weight gain
- Mental or mood changes, such as hallucinations
- Fracture
- Seizures, easy bruising / bleeding
Serious allergic reactions due to consumption of Duetact are known to be rare. If you experience itching, rash, swelling in the face and throat area, and have difficulty breathing, contact your doctor immediately.
The above list is not a complete list of the side effects that Duetact may produce. Talk to your doctor about the possible side effects that you are worried about will occur.
Warnings and Precautions
What should be known before consuming Duetact?
- Inform your doctor if you have a history of drug allergy, especially the glitazone class of drugs, such as pioglitazone or rosiglitazone and glimperide. Also inform if you have allergies to sulfonylurea class drugs (such as glipizide or tolbutamide), or any other drug allergies. The ingredients in this drug may cause an allergic reaction
- Tell your doctor about your medical history, such as past or current illnesses, especially diabetes ketoacidosis, heart problems (such as congestive heart failure), fluid in the lungs, swelling (edema, fluid retention), liver problems, kidney disease, thyroid gland problems, certain hormone (adrenal or pituitary) disorders, inherited enzyme deficiency called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, bladder cancer, anemia, and problems with the eye (retina)
- This medicine may cause blurred vision, dizziness, or severe drowsiness due to a drastic drop in blood sugar levels. Avoid activities that require high alertness, such as driving, before knowing how your body responds to this medication
- This treatment makes you more sensitive to sunlight. Limit yourself to sun exposure. Use sun cream or protective clothing when outdoors. Tell your doctor if your skin is burning or reddening
- Pioglitazone is included in the thiazolidinediones class of drugs which can cause or aggravate congestive heart failure in some patients. After increasing the dose, the patient should be closely monitored for symptoms of heart failure. If symptoms continue to get worse, discontinuation of this drug may need to be considered
- Pioglitazone can promote ovulation even though you are already premenopausal and cause an unplanned pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you are on a birth control program
- The use of Colesevelam can decrease the action of glimepiride. If you must take Colesevelam, take Duetact at least four hours before taking Colesevelam
- Tell your doctor if you plan to become pregnant or are pregnant but need to control blood sugar. Your doctor may prepare alternative treatments or make dosage adjustments
Is Duetact safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women?
The use of Duetact is not recommended during pregnancy. Your doctor may replace it with insulin while you are pregnant. Use of this medicine closer to the date of birth will cause your baby to be born with low blood sugar. Follow your doctor's instructions more carefully.
It is not yet known whether Duetact passes through breast milk and is bad for newborns. The use of this drug is not recommended during breastfeeding. Talk to your doctor about safe drugs.
Drug Interactions
What drugs might interact with Duetact?
Drug interactions can change how medications work or increase the risk of side effects. The following list does not contain all drugs that may cause drug interactions. Tell your doctor if you are on medication, especially for drug consumption:
- Gemfibrozil
- Rifamycin, including rifampin
- Ethanol
- Eluxadoline
- Baricitinib
- Sulfonamides
- Aspirin
- Epinephrine
- Insulin
- Some quinolone drugs
Keep a list of all the drugs you take and inform your doctor before taking this medication, including prescription, non-prescription, vitamin, or herbal medicines.
Overdose
What should I do in an emergency or overdose?
In case of an emergency or overdose, call emergency medical assistance immediately (119) or rush to the nearest hospital emergency department for help. Hypoglycemia is also a condition that occurs as a result of an overdose, the symptoms of which include:
- Body shaking
- The heart beats fast
- Sweating
- Loss of consciousness
What if I forget my medication schedule?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, skip the forgotten schedule if the distance gets too close to the next schedule. Continue taking medication on a regular schedule. Do not double your dose on a single medication schedule.
