What Are Avandia's Effects on Blood Sugar Levels?
One of the possible side effects of
Avandia® (
rosiglitazone maleate) is its effect on blood sugar levels. For some people, Avandia can cause blood sugar levels to drop too low (hypoglycemia). It is also possible for blood sugar to rise too high (hyperglycemia) in people taking Avandia.
Avandia and Low Blood Sugar
Unlike many other
diabetes medications, Avandia is unlikely to cause low blood sugar. However, low blood sugar is more likely when Avandia is combined with other
diabetes medications. Low blood sugar is also more common in elderly people and in people with adrenal, pituitary, liver, or kidney problems -- as well as during fasting before surgery and 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 of low blood sugar 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 Avandia, 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.
