Avandamet and Blood Sugar

While Avandamet can reduce and control blood sugar levels, it is possible for blood sugar to drop too low or go too high. Low blood sugar, which may cause blurred vision, shakiness, or cold sweats, is more likely to occur when Avandamet is taken with other diabetes medications. Symptoms of high blood sugar levels may include shortness of breath, fatigue, or nausea. Since extremely low or high blood sugar can be very dangerous, contact your healthcare provider immediately if you are taking Avandamet and blood sugar levels become too high or low.

 

What Are the Effects of Avandamet on Blood Sugar Levels?

One of the possible side effects with Avandamet® (rosiglitazone and metformin) is its effect on blood sugar levels. For some people, Avandamet can cause blood sugar levels to drop too low (hypoglycemia). It is also possible for blood sugar to go too high (hyperglycemia) in people taking Avandamet.
 

Avandamet and Low Blood Sugar

Unlike many other
 diabetes drugs, Avandamet is unlikely to cause low blood sugar. Although up to 12 percent of people taking Avandamet reported mild or moderate low blood sugar symptoms, only 0.6 percent of the people taking Avandamet actually had low blood sugar when their blood sugar was tested. However, low blood sugar is more likely to occur when Avandamet is combined with other diabetes medications.
 
Low blood sugar is also more common:
 
  • In elderly people
  • In people with adrenal, pituitary, liver, or kidney problems
  • During fasting before surgery
  • After prolonged exercise.
 
Low blood sugar symptoms can vary depending on a number of factors, including how low the blood sugar levels are. Examples of early symptoms may include:
 
  • Sweating
  • Shakiness
  • Extreme hunger
  • Dizziness
  • Cold sweats
  • Blurry vision.
     
More severe symptoms of low blood sugar can include:
 
  • Changes in behavior, such as irritability
  • Loss of coordination
  • Difficulty speaking
  • Confusion
  • Seizures
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Coma
  • Loss of life.
     
If you develop any possible symptoms of low blood sugar while on Avandamet, contact your healthcare provider immediately or seek emergency medical care and stop taking the medicine. If your healthcare provider believes that low blood sugar is causing your symptoms, he or she may recommend that you treat the low blood sugar immediately by eating or drinking something with sugar in it, such as orange juice, hard candy, a tablespoon of honey, or even a tablespoon of granulated sugar.
 
(Avandamet and Blood Sugar Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;