Avandamet

Avandamet is a drug that is used to treat type 2 diabetes. The medication is composed of rosiglitazone and metformin, two diabetes drugs that can help reduce and control blood sugar levels by improving insulin sensitivity and decreasing sugar absorption into the body. Avandamet comes in the form of a tablet and is available in four strengths, each with different amounts of metformin and rosiglitazone. Potential side effects of the combination medicine may include headache, upset stomach, or upper respiratory tract infections.

 

What Is Avandamet?

Avandamet® (rosiglitazone and metformin) is a prescription medication that is used to treat type 2 diabetes (also known as noninsulin-dependent diabetes or adult-onset diabetes). The drug is a combination of two different diabetes medications: rosiglitazone maleate (Avandia®) and metformin hydrochloride (Fortamet®, Glucophage®, Glucophage XR®, Glumetza®, or Riomet®).
 
(Click Avandamet Uses for more information on what it is used for, including possible off-label uses.)
 

Who Makes Avandamet?

Avandamet is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline.
 

How Does It Work?

Avandamet is a combination of two diabetes medicines (rosiglitazone and metformin).
 These two medications work differently and have different effects in the body:
 
  • Rosiglitazone is part of a class of diabetes medication called thiazolidinediones (or sometimes called "glitazones"). Rosiglitazone helps to improve insulin sensitivity. This means that rosiglitazone helps your body respond to insulin better, which helps to lower blood sugar.
     
  • Metformin works in several ways. For example, it decreases the amount of sugar (glucose) made by the liver. It can also decrease the amount of sugar absorbed into the body (from the diet) and can make insulin receptors more sensitive, helping the body respond to its own insulin better. All of these effects cause a decrease in blood sugar levels.
     
Because Avandamet does not increase the amount of insulin the body produces, it is less likely to cause dangerously low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), as many other diabetes drugs can do (see Avandamet Alternatives and Avandamet and Blood Sugar for more information). It is not intended to be used for the treatment of type 1 diabetes (see Avandamet and Type 1 Diabetes for more information).
 
(Avandamet Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;