Patient/caregiver was educated on side effects of Avandia use as follows:
GI disturbance
- Patients taking avandia can sometimes present with symptoms of stomach upset and gastrointestinal disturbances, such as, nausea and vomiting.
- Taking the medication with a glass of water and some food or snack can help avoid/reduce these unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms.
Hypoglycemia
- Avandia acts by reducing insulin resistance and increasing the sensitivity of body cells to insulin. Improved/reduced insulin resistance by Avandia can contribute to increased response to insulin with improved shifting of glucose from the blood into the cells of body tissues. This results in improved blood sugar control and reduced blood sugars.
- Extreme lowering of blood sugars and hypoglycemia with avandia alone is not a common complaint, unless it is used in combination with other medications, which have a significant risk for side effect of hypoglycemia, such as, Glimepiride and Glyburide.
- Patients in hypoglycemia can have poor glucose supply to the brain, which is its major source of nutrition. So, poor nutrition supply to brain cells result in severe dizziness, lightheadedness, inability to focus, irritability, headache, and weakness.
- Avoid skipping meals while taking avandia. Observing compliance with timely nutrition intake and recommended calorie consumption can help prevent development of hypoglycemic episodes.
Fluid retention
- Use of avandia can contribute to significant fluid retention in the body. Retained fluid can add extra load on the heart in individuals with congestive heart failure and can lead to worsening of heart failure symptoms and cardiac function.
- Patients can present with edema, sharp weight gain, progressively increasing shortness of breath, compromised endurance, and worsening fatigue.
