Actos, the brand name for pioglitazone, generally is prescribed for people with type 2 diabetes. If you exercise and follow a precise diet for diabetes mellitus and you still have high glucose levels, your physician may prescribe Actos by itself or with medications such as sulfonylurea, metformin or insulin, the Mayo Clinic states. It is administered as a pill.
Pain
Actos may induce side effects of pain in your body. Pain in the chest is considered the more common and most serious of these potential side effects, so tell your physician immediately if you experience it. You also may experience pain in your legs or arms, but these are less common. Pain in your stomach also is possible, the Mayo Clinic states, but the incidence of occurrence in people taking Actos is unknown. If it occurs in you, tell your doctor. Actos, when first taken, also may cause relatively common temporary side effects not thought of as serious. You may, for example, get headaches or stomachaches, but as you take Actos regularly, these should go away.
Breathing
Taking pioglitazone can have some serious side effects for your breathing. The more common types of side effects include irregular breathing, shortness of breath, chest tightness or other breathing problems such as wheezing. Less commonly, you may experience breathing difficulties when you are active. These all are serious, so talk to a medical professional about them immediately. Nasal congestion and a fruity breath odor are more common temporary side effects, only requiring medical help if they continue past the early stages of treatment with pioglitazone.
Heart
The use of pioglitazone also may produce side effects in your heart or blood. The most common of these is an arrhythmia, also known as an irregular heartbeat. The veins in your neck also may become dilated. These are serious and you should tell your physician immediately about them.
Other Side Effects
Other serious side effects of Actos include urine output decreases, extreme fatigue, teeth problems and gaining weight and swelling in the lower portion of your legs or feet, in your fingers or face. Less common serious effects are skin paleness, abnormal bruising, weakness, bleeding or tiredness. Other serious side effects have been reported such as vomiting and nausea, appetite loss, urine discoloration, weight gain that is rapid and jaundice, characterized by skin and eye yellowing. Non-serious side effects also include weight loss that is unexplained, a cough, sweating, dry mouth, throat soreness, dry skin, unconsciousness and increased hunger and thirst.
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