Duetact

Duetact is commonly prescribed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The medicine, which combines pioglitazone and glimepiride, helps improve insulin sensitivity and insulin production to lower and control blood sugar levels. The most common side effects include weight gain, upper respiratory tract infections, and low blood sugar. Duetact comes in tablet form and is typically taken once a day.

 

What Is Duetact?

Duetact® (pioglitazone and glimepiride) is a prescription medication that is used to treat type 2 diabetes (also known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes or adult-onset diabetes). Duetact is a combination of two different diabetes medications: pioglitazone hydrochloride (Actos®) and glimepiride (Amaryl®).
 
(Click Duetact Uses for more information, including possible off-label uses.)
 

Who Makes Duetact?

Duetact is manufactured by Takeda Pharmaceuticals.
 

How Does Duetact Work?

The two medications in Duetact -- pioglitazone and glimepiride -- work differently and have different effects in the body:
 
 
  • Pioglitazone is part of a group of medications called thiazolidinediones (sometimes called "glitazones"). It helps to improve insulin sensitivity, meaning that it helps your body use its natural insulin better. This helps to lower blood sugar and keep it under better control.
     
  • Glimepiride is part of a class of diabetes medications known as sulfonylureas. As a sulfonylurea, glimepiride helps the pancreas produce more insulin. This may also help body cells respond to insulin better and helps to lower blood sugar and keep diabetes under better control.
     
Duetact cannot be used to treat type 1 diabetes.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;