Insert K
Combination Diabetes Pills
Many people with diabetes need more than one medicine to control their diabetes. If you need more than one type of diabetes pill, your health care provider may prescribe a combination pill. Combination pills contain two different types of diabetes medicines, so you can take one pill instead of two separate pills.
| Combination pills available include the following: | ||
|---|---|---|
See warning below; these medicines contain pioglitazone (Actos):
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See warning below; these medicines contain rosiglitazone (Avandia):
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If you are currently taking a combination diabetes pill containing one of the thiazolidinedione medicines—pioglitazone (Actos) or rosiglitazone (Avandia): See the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announcements below about these pills.
Discuss treatment options with your doctor before stopping your diabetes medicines. Stopping your diabetes medicines without talking with your doctor can cause serious short-term health problems and could increase the risk of long-term diabetes-related complications.
See Insert J for more information about the thiazolidinedione medicines.
In June 2011, the FDA warned that use of Actos for more than 1 year may be associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer. The FDA recommended that people receiving treatment for bladder cancer should not take Actos, and Actos should be used with caution in people with a history of bladder cancer. This warning also applies to combination diabetes pills containing pioglitazone—Actoplus Met, Actoplus Met XR, and Duetact.
Visit www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm259150 or call the FDA at 1–888–INFO–FDA (1–888–463–6332) for more information about the FDA’s warning on the use of Actos.
In September 2010, the FDA announced that access to Avandia would be restricted because of studies linking Avandia to an increased risk of cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks. In May 2011, the FDA announced new restrictions on the use and distribution of Avandia and combination diabetes pills containing rosiglitazone.
After November 18, 2011, Avandia and the combination diabetes pills Avandamet and Avandaryl will no longer be available through retail pharmacies. Health care providers and patients must enroll in a special program in order to prescribe and receive these medicines.
Visit www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm255005 or call the FDA at 1–888–INFO–FDA (1–888–463–6332) for more information about the FDA’s restrictions on the use of Avandia.
| Brand Name | Generic Name |
|---|---|
| __ Actoplus Met (AK-tohpluhss)(met) __ Actoplus Met XR __ Avandamet (uh-VAN-duhmet) |
__ pioglitazone (py-oh-GLIH-tuhzohn) + metformin (met-FORmin) __ rosiglitazone (rohss-ih-GLIHtuh-zohn) + metformin (met-FOR-min) |
What does this type of pill do?
Actoplus Met, Actoplus Met XR, and Avandamet are a combination of two types of pills. One type lowers the amount of glucose made by your liver. Both types help your insulin work the way it should. Actoplus Met XR contains an extended release form of metformin along with pioglitazone.
To learn more about the types of pills in Actoplus Met, Actoplus Met XR, and Avandamet, see
- Insert J for information about pioglitazone and rosiglitazone (thiazolidinediones)
- Insert E for information about metformin (a biguanide)
| Brand Name | Generic Name |
|---|---|
| __ Avandaryl (uh-VANduh-ril) __ Duetact (DOO-uh-tak) |
__ rosiglitazone (rohss-ih-GLIH-tuhzohn) + glimepiride (gly-MEP-ih-ryd) __ pioglitazone (py-oh-GLIH-tuh-zohn) + glimepiride (gly-MEP-ih-ryd) |
What does this type of pill do?
Avandaryl and Duetact are a combination of two types of pills. One type helps your insulin work the way it should. The other type helps your body make more insulin.
To learn more about the types of pills in Avandaryl and Duetact, see
- Insert J for information about pioglitazone and rosiglitazone (thiazolidinediones)
- Insert I for information about glimepiride (a sulfonylurea)
| Brand Name | Generic Name |
|---|---|
| __ Glucovance (GLOO-koh-vanss) | __ glyburide (GLY-buh-ryd) + metformin (met-FOR-min) |
What does this type of pill do?
Glucovance is a combination of two types of pills. One type helps your body make more insulin. The other type lowers the amount of glucose made by your liver and helps your insulin work the way it should.
To learn more about the types of pills in Glucovance, see
- Insert I for information about glyburide (a sulfonylurea)
- Insert E for information about metformin (a biguanide)
| Brand Name | Generic Name |
|---|---|
| __ Janumet (JAN-yoo-met) | __ sitagliptin (sih-tuh-GLIP-tin) + metformin (met-FOR-min) |
What does this type of pill do?
Janumet is a combination of two types of pills. One type helps your body make more insulin when it’s needed, especially right after meals. It also helps keep your liver from putting stored glucose into your blood. The other type lowers the amount of glucose made by your liver and helps your insulin work the way it should.
To learn more about the types of pills in Janumet, see
- Insert G for information about sitagliptin (a DPP-4 inhibitor)
- Insert E for information about metformin (a biguanide)
| Brand Name | Generic Name |
|---|---|
| __ Metaglip (MET-uh-glip) | __ glipizide (GLIP-ih-zyd) + metformin (met-FOR-min) |
What does this type of pill do?
Metaglip is a combination of two types of pills. One type helps your body make more insulin. The other type lowers the amount of glucose made by your liver and helps your insulin work the way it should.
To learn more about the types of pills in Metaglip, see
- Insert I for information about glyburide (a sulfonylurea)
- Insert E for information about metformin (a biguanide)
Return to general information Go to Insert L
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Page last updated February 16, 2012
