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Lipid Lowering With Actos
While Actos is a diabetes medicine that can help lower blood sugar, research studies also show that there are lipid lowering effects with Actos. In studies, people using the drug for type 2 diabetes also appeared to have higher HDL cholesterol and lower triglyceride levels. Since people with diabetes are at an increased risk for heart disease, using Actos can help minimize this risk.
Actos® (pioglitazone hydrochloride) is a prescription medication used to treat type 2 diabetes. It is a member of the thiazolidinedione group of diabetes medications. Although Actos has many beneficial effects on blood sugar, it may also have useful effects on lipids.
In studies, Actos increased HDL cholesterol ("good" cholesterol) by 12.2 to 19.1 percent. It also decreased triglycerides by about 9 percent. The medication did increase LDL cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol) and total cholesterol, although people not taking Actos increased their LDL and total cholesterol by similar percentages.
(Click Cholesterol Guidelines for more information about cholesterol levels.)
Actos appears to have beneficial effects on lipids. The drug increases HDL ("good cholesterol") and decreases triglycerides. However, it does not seem to have much of an effect on LDL cholesterol or total cholesterol.
Because people with diabetes are at an increased risk for heart disease (see Diabetes and Heart Disease), good cholesterol levels are especially important. Talk to your healthcare provider about your specific cholesterol numbers and whether you need to take action, including changes in diet, exercise, or medication, to improve them.
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD