ACTOPLUS MET combines two antidiabetic medications with different mechanisms of action to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes: pioglitazone, a thiazolidinedione, and metformin hydrochloride, a biguanide.

ACTOPLUS MET is indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus when treatment with both pioglitazone and metformin is appropriate. Important Limitations of Use: not for treatment of type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis.

15 mg/500 mg twice daily or 15 mg/850 mg once daily and gradually titrated, as needed, after assessing adequacy of therapeutic response and tolerability.

Most common adverse reactions (>5%) are upper respiratory tract infection, edema, diarrhea, headache and weight gain.

Initiation in patients with established NYHA Class III or IV heart failure, Severe renal impairment, Use in patients with known hypersensitivity to pioglitazone, metformin, or any other component, Metabolic acidosis including diabetic ketoacidosis.

Pioglitazone, like other thiazolidinediones, can cause dose-related fluid retention when used alone or in combination with other antidiabetic medications and is most common when pioglitazone is used in combination with insulin.