Welcome to duetact.com, Your Resource for Type 2 Diabetes Information

About duetact

Prescribing Information
Special Offers
Frequently Asked Questions
Important Safety Information
Glossary
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Welcome to duetact.com. Today is Monday, January 5, 2009

•A new, real-time glossary feature is now available. Simply roll your mouse over any highlighted text to read the definition.

•The Take Action Learning Center has a new look. Now, getting the information and tools you need to help manage type 2 diabetes is easier than ever!

•More site improvements are on the way. Be sure to register for updates at the Take Action Learning Center

•You may be eligible to save up to $50 on your prescription for ACTOS or an ACTOS combination product (ACTOplus met or duetact) as part of the ACTOS Advantage^® Program. See Special Offers for details.

Welcome to duetact.com, your type 2 diabetes resource

Learn more about duetact, a medication used to treat type 2 diabetes.
Discover ways to manage type 2 diabetes, including healthy eating tips, exercise ideas, interactive tools, and much more in the Take Action Learning Center.
Explore duetact.com—and put knowledge on your side!

Control your blood sugar levels in two ways with duetact

Duetact combines two medications, ACTOS and glimepiride, in one convenient tablet that, with diet and exercise, can help lower your blood sugar levels in two ways.

The first medication, ACTOS, helps control blood sugar levels by reducing insulin resistance—a condition in which your body’s cells don’t respond to a hormone (called insulin) that allows them to turn blood sugar into energy. The second, glimepiride, helps your pancreas make more insulin.

While not intended to treat lipid disorders, ACTOS may have a positive effect on HDL (good) cholesterol and triglycerides (blood fats) without changes in LDL (bad) cholesterol or total cholesterol in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Management of type 2 diabetes should also include nutritional counseling, weight reduction as needed, and exercise.

Please see Important Safety Information, including warning about heart failure, below.



*Important Safety Information About duetact^® (pioglitazone HCl and glimepiride)* Duetact contains 2 prescription antidiabetic medicines: pioglitazone HCl (ACTOS) and glimepiride, a sulfonylurea. Duetact is used with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar (glucose) control in adults with type 2 diabetes who are already taking ACTOS and a sulfonylurea together, or taking a sulfonylurea alone and it is not controlling blood sugar. Duetact is not for everyone. Certain patients with heart failure should not start taking duetact. Duetact can cause or worsen congestive heart failure. Talk to your doctor immediately if you experience rapid weight gain, fluid retention (swelling), or shortness of breath. Do not take duetact if you have active liver disease. Your doctor should perform a blood test to check for liver problems before you start duetact and periodically thereafter. Talk to your doctor immediately if you experience nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, tiredness, loss of appetite, dark urine, or yellowing of the skin. Some people taking duetact may experience flu-like symptoms, mild-to-moderate swelling of legs and ankles, and anemia. Duetact may cause low blood sugar. Lightheadedness, dizziness, shakiness, or hunger may mean that your blood sugar is too low. Talk to your doctor if low blood sugar is a problem for you. Duetact may increase your risk of becoming pregnant. If you are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant, talk to your doctor before taking duetact. If you are nursing, do not take duetact. Some people, particularly women, are at higher risk of having bone fractures while taking duetact. Patients with diabetes should have regular eye exams. If you experience vision problems, consult your doctor immediately. Very rarely, some patients have experienced visual changes while taking pioglitazone, a component of duetact. Duetact should not be used in patients with type 1 diabetes. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Copyright ©1999, 2008 Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc.
This site is intended for use by U.S. residents only.
ACTOS®, ACTOplus met®, and duetact® are registered trademarks of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited
and are used under license by Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc.