Avandamet

Generic Name: Rosiglitazone/Metformin Tablets
Brand Name: Avandamet

Avandamet is used for:

Treating type 2 diabetes. It is used along with diet and exercise. It may be used alone or with other antidiabetic medicines.

Avandamet is a thiazolidinedione and biguanide antidiabetic combination. It works by decreasing the amount of sugar that the liver produces and the intestines absorb. It also helps to make your body more sensitive to the insulin that you naturally produce.

Do NOT use Avandamet if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Avandamet
• you have type 1 diabetes
• you have moderate to severe heart failure
• you have had a severe infection, low blood oxygen levels, kidney or liver problems, high blood ketone or acid levels (eg, diabetic ketoacidosis), or a type of diabetic eye problem (macular edema), or you are severely dehydrated
• you have had a stroke or a recent heart attack, or you are in shock
• you are 80 years old or more and have not had a kidney function test
• you will be having surgery or certain lab procedures
• you have a history of liver problems, including jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), during therapy with a similar medicine called troglitazone
• you are taking a nitrate (eg, nitroglycerin) or using insulin

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Avandamet :

Some medical conditions may interact with Avandamet . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have a history of heart problems (eg, heart failure), abnormal liver function tests, lung or breathing problems, thyroid problems, stomach or bowel problems (eg, paralysis, blockage), adrenal or pituitary problems, eye or vision problems, or lactic acidosis
• if you have fluid retention or swelling problems, vomiting, diarrhea, poor health or nutrition, low blood calcium or vitamin B₁₂ levels, or anemia, or you are dehydrated
• if you have an infection, fever, recent injury, or moderate to severe burns
• if you drink alcohol or have a history of alcohol abuse
• if you will be having surgery or certain lab procedures
• if you are taking a beta-blocker (eg, propranolol)

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Avandamet . Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Insulin or nitrates (eg, nitroglycerin) because the risk of heart problems may be increased
• Amiloride, digoxin, morphine, procainamide, quinidine, quinine, ranitidine, triamterene, trimethoprim, or vancomycin because they may increase the risk of Avandamet 's side effects
• Calcium channel blockers (eg, nifedipine), corticosteroids (eg, prednisone), diuretics (eg, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide), estrogen, hormonal contraceptives (eg, birth control pills), isoniazid, nicotinic acid, oral antidiabetics (eg, glipizide), phenothiazines (eg, chlorpromazine), phenytoin, sympathomimetics (eg, albuterol, pseudoephedrine), or thyroid hormones (eg, levothyroxine) because the risk of high or low blood sugar may be increased
• Gemfibrozil because it may increase the risk of Avandamet 's side effects
• Rifampin because it may decrease Avandamet 's effectiveness, resulting in high blood sugar
• Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin) because their effectiveness may be decreased or the risk of their side effects may be increased by Avandamet

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Avandamet may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.