Effects of this medicine

Before using this medicine, be sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist

• If you ever experienced any allergic reaction (itch, rash etc.) to any medicine.
  If you have a heart disease or a history of heart disease, ketosis, diabetic coma or precoma, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, hepatic disorder, renal disorder, or severe infection; are in a pre- or post-operative state; have an injury, pituitary abnormality, adrenal disorder, inadequate food intake, or debility; are doing strenuous physical exercise, or a heavy drinker; or have a bladder cancer or a history of bladder cancer, or diabetic retinopathy.

• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

• If you are taking any other medicinal products. (Some medicines may interact to enhance or diminish medicinal effects. Beware of over-the-counter medicines and dietary supplements as well as other prescription medicines.)

Dosing schedule (How to take this medicine)

• Your dosing schedule prescribed by your doctor is <<        to be written by a healthcare professional>>

• General dosage regimen: for adults, take 0.5 to 1 tablet (15 to 30 mg of pioglitazone) at a time, once a day, before or after breakfast. The dosage should be adjusted according to your gender, age and symptoms, but 1.5 tablets (45 mg) a day is the upper limit of dosage.
  When given concomitantly with an insulin preparation, for adults, take 0.5 tablets (15 mg of pioglitazone) at a time, once a day, before or after breakfast. The dosage should be adjusted according to your gender, age and symptoms, but 1 tablet (30 mg) a day is the upper limit of dosage.
  Strictly follow the instructions of your doctor/pharmacist.

• If you missed a dose, take the missed dose as soon as possible if prior to noon. As hypoglycemia may occur, do not take the medicine after severe exercise or on an empty stomach. DO NOT take double doses to make up for the missed dose.

• If you took too much of the medicine (more than ordered), check with your doctor/pharmacist.

• Do not stop taking the medicine without the instructions of your doctor.

Precautions while taking this medicine

• Strictly adhere to dietary instructions given and to kinesitherapy prescribed.
• Much caution should be exercised as hypoglycemia may occur.
• When hypoglycemia symptoms occur, take an adequate amount of sugar (e.g., sugar, glucose, soft drinks). If you are taking the medicine concomitantly with an α-glucosidase inhibitor (drugs which delay absorption of sugar such as voglibose and acarbose), ingest glucose in case of any hypoglycemic symptoms.
• Although this drug has not been concluded to cause bladder cancer, there has been a report overseas stating that a potential risk for bladder cancer increases with increasing duration of this drug medication. Therefore, patients receiving this drug are followed by periodic urinary tests, etc. If hematuria, frequent urination, painful micturition, etc. appear, check with your doctor.

Possible adverse effects of this medicine

• swelling, rapid weight increase, shortness of breath, palpitation[heart failure]
• swelling, rapid weight increase[edema]
• loss of appetite, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes[liver disorder, jaundice]
• cold sweat, feeling hungry, trembling of hands/feet[hypoglycemia]
• lassitude, muscle pain, brown urine[rhabdomyolysis]
• pain in the pit of stomach, nausea, black stool[relapse of gastric ulcer]
• fever, cough, breathing difficulty[interstitial pneumonia]

Storage conditions and other information

• Keep out of the reach of children. Store away from direct sunlight, heat and humidity.
•  Discard the remainder. Do not store them.