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rosiglitazone maleate
Avandia

Pregnancy Risk Category C

How supplied
Tablets:
2 mg, 4 mg, 8 mg

Action
Lowers blood glucose levels by improving insulin sensitivity.

Indications & dosage
Adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus; with metformin to lower blood glucose levels in patients whose hyperglycemia can't be controlled by diet, exercise, and either rosiglitazone or metformin--

Adults:
initially, 4 mg P.O. daily in the morning or in divided doses b.i.d. in the morning and evening. Dosage may be increased to 8 mg P.O. daily or in divided doses b.i.d. if fasting plasma glucose level doesn't improve after 12 weeks of treatment.

Adverse reactions
CNS:
headache, fatigue.
CV:
edema.
EENT:
sinusitis.
GI:
diarrhea.
Hematologic:
anemia.
Metabolic:
hyperglycemia.
Musculoskeletal:
back pain.
Respiratory:
upper respiratory tract infection.
Other:
injury.

Interactions
None significant.

Effects on diagnostic tests
None reported.

Contraindications
Contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to drug or its components and in those with New York Heart Association class III and I.V. cardiac status unless expected benefits outweigh potential risks. Also contraindicated in patients with active liver disease, increased baseline liver enzyme levels (ALT level over 21/2 times upper limit of normal), type 1 diabetes, or diabetic ketoacidosis and in those who experienced jaundice while taking troglitazone. Because metformin is contraindicated in patients with renal impairment, combination therapy with rosiglitazone is also contraindicated in patients with renal impairment. Rosiglitazone can be used as monotherapy in patients with renal impairment.

Nursing considerations

Patient teaching

*Liquid contains alcohol. **May contain tartrazine.  †Canada  ‡Australia  §U.K.  OTCOver the counter
Reactions may be common, uncommon, life-threatening, or COMMON AND LIFE-THREATENING

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