Duetact Side Effects: An Introduction
As with any medicine, side effects are possible with
Duetact® (
pioglitazone and glimepiride). However, not everyone who takes the medicine will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate Duetact quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can be easily treated by you or your healthcare provider.
(The Duetact side effects discussed below are not a complete list of reported side effects. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list with you.)
Common Duetact Side Effects
Although the Duetact has not been studied in clinical trials, several studies have looked at the effects of combinations of
pioglitazone with sulfonylreas (such as the combination that is in Duetact) for the treatment of
type 2 diabetes. In these studies, side effects occurring in the group of people taking the drug are always documented and compared to side effects that occurred in a similar group of people not taking the medicine.
Based on these studies, the most common Duetact side effects include:
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) -- in up to 15.7 percent of people (see Duetact and Blood Sugar)
- Upper respiratory tract infections (similar to the common cold) -- up to 14.8 percent
- Weight gain -- up to 13.4 percent (see Duetact and Weight Gain)
- Swelling or fluid retention (edema) in the legs or ankles -- up to 12.3 percent
- Headache -- up to 7.1 percent
- Urinary tract infections (such as bladder infections) -- up to 6.8 percent
- Diarrhea -- up to 6 percent
- Nausea -- up to 5.1 percent
- Pain in the arm or leg -- up to 5.4 percent.
