Avandia/Rosiglitazone IS USED FOR:

Controlling blood sugar levels, along with diet and exercise, in patients with type 2 diabetes. This medication may also be used with other antidiabetes medicines.

Rosiglitazone/Avandia is a thiazolidinedione. It lowers blood glucose (sugar) by making the cells of the body more sensitive to the action of insulin. Insulin is needed to allow sugar to be carried from the bloodstream into many cells of the body for energy. Rosiglitazone/Avandia does not work in type 1 diabetes.

BEFORE USING Avandia/Rosiglitazone :

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

• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have experienced liver problems, including yellowing of the skin, with troglitazone
• if you have a history of heart disease (eg, chronic congestive heart failure)
• if you have diabetic ketoacidosis, type 1 diabetes, swelling problems (edema), or liver disease
• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding

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

• Rifampin because the effectiveness of Rosiglitazone/Avandia may be decreased
• Gemfibrozil/Lopid because actions and side effects of Rosiglitazone/Avandia may be increased and excessively low blood sugar may occur

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Rosiglitazone/Avandia 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.

HOW TO USE Avandia/Rosiglitazone :

Use Rosiglitazone/Avandia as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Rosiglitazone/Avandia may be taken with or without food. Take with food if stomach upset occurs.
• To help you remember to take Rosiglitazone/Avandia , you may want to take it at the same time every day.
• Full effects of Rosiglitazone/Avandia may not be seen for 2 to 3 months.
• If you miss a dose of Rosiglitazone/Avandia , take it as soon as possible. If it almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double the dose.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Rosiglitazone/Avandia .

DO NOT USE Avandia/Rosiglitazone IF:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Rosiglitazone/Avandia

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

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF Avandia/Rosiglitazone :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Back pain; diarrhea; headache; injury; sinus infection; upper respiratory tract infection.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); abdominal pain; bloating or swelling of the ankles, feet, or hands; chest pain; confusion; dark urine; fast heartbeat; hunger; loss of appetite; nausea; numbness; pain; rapid weight gain; shortness of breath; stomach problems; sweating; tiredness; unusual thirst or amount of urine; vision changes; vomiting; yellowing of the skin.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION:

• Carry an identification card at all times that says you are diabetic.
• Monitor your blood sugar level regularly according to your doctor's directions. If you blood sugar level is often higher than it should be and you are taking Rosiglitazone/Avandia according to the directions, check with your health care provider.
• Management of type 2 diabetes should include diet control. Restriction of calories, weight loss, and exercise are essential for proper treatment. It is important to follow the diet guidelines given to you by your health care provider.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, discuss the benefits and risks of using Rosiglitazone/Avandia during pregnancy with your doctor. Do not breast-feed while taking Rosiglitazone/Avandia .
• Rosiglitazone/Avandia may cause ovulation in women who have not reached menopause but do not ovulate. Be sure to use adequate birth control methods while using Rosiglitazone/Avandia .
• When using Rosiglitazone/Avandia with insulin or other diabetes medicine, be sure that you and your family members know the risks, symptoms (eg, numbness, fatigue, hunger, sweating, rapid pulse, confusion), and treatment (eg, sugar-containing drinks or food) of low blood sugar.
• If your blood sugar level is often higher than it should be and you are taking Rosiglitazone/Avandia according to your health care provider´s directions, check with your health care provider.
• If you are taking insulin, during periods of stress such as fever, infection, or surgery, you may need to change your insulin dose. Talk with your health care provider.
• Rosiglitazone/Avandia should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN. Safety and effectiveness have not been confirmed.
• If you are taking 2 antidiabetic medicines each day and you become irritable, lightheaded, or very tired, tell your doctor at once.
• LAB TESTS, including liver function and blood, will be required while you are using Rosiglitazone/Avandia . Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Before you have any medical or dental treatments, emergency care, or surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using Rosiglitazone/Avandia .

What is the shelf life of the pills?

• The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.