Actos anyone?

Calantha · 07-24-2002, 07:22 PM

Anyone have any experiences with actos? I'm just curious to see how/if it's worked for any of you. I'm getting ready to go into a 10 week study for it, and then when the study is over I'll be going on it for good. The doc sings it's praises.. but hey, he's the doc, it's his job. TIA
-Brandy

miranda1977 · 07-30-2002, 09:10 AM

Hi there...

My doc has also given me a some Actos to try for a trial period - he's going to monitor my progress and see how it goes. Like your doctor, he sings its praises! We'll wait and see. I'd be interested to see how anyone else who has been on it went.

Miranda

miranda1977 · 08-22-2002, 05:28 AM

Bump!

miranda1977 · 08-23-2002, 10:53 AM

I'm bumping this again to see if I can find cysters who've had success with Actos - especially in terms of weight loss. I took my first Actos pill today - I've been on gluc for 4 years. I got a pretty bad stomach ache two hours later but that's it so far.

I'm interested to hear other people's experiences with this!

Miranda

ang27 · 09-03-2002, 03:02 PM

I have been on actos for about 7 months. So far my weight has remained the same ugh!! I was thinking of making an appointment to see my dr. to see if he thinks i should try something else. My dr. praised it also but he also told me to be very careful because some women actually gained on it. so far i havent gained but no loss either. I also havent seen any side effects really. the only thing that i think happened that may have been caused by the actos was this. i hadnt eaten for a long period of time. then when i did i got deathly sick puking and a nose bleed that wouldnt stop. i dont know that it was the actos for sure or not but i do notice that my sugar seems to get low a lot if i don't eat regularly

Calantha · 09-03-2002, 03:39 PM

Ang,
Did the actos help you to ovulate at all? (Assuming you weren't before, I know some cysters do it on their own). That's really my main objective in taking the actos. I've tried Glucophage (regular and XR) as well as clomid, gonal-f and follistim. Nothing has worked so far. I can get periods with BCP's, but taking BCP's just seems so wrong to me when I want a baby so badly. I probably never will get pregnant, but even if I'm going to ovulate once every 10 years, I don't want to blow that tiny little chance by taking BCP's. The doctor says that actos LOOKS like it helps ovulation better than gluc, but that there aren't enough studies for him to quote reliable numbers to me. He says it's worth a try anyways. I've also started dieting and exercising, which is taking the weight off so maybe that will help. I guess I'm just grasping at straws here.
-Brandy

LadyOrca · 09-03-2002, 03:53 PM

...almost 9 months. In February I took Provera and again in April...May I had AF from Provera..........but in June, July, AND August I got AF on my own...I took Clomid prior to the June and August AFs.... I am seeing a good thing here.........

If you are taking Actos and expecting weight loss, you need to change your expectations. Weight loss is a possible side effect of Glucophage, but not the other meds like Actos or Avandia.... my weight has mostly remained the same.......I have gained some weight, but it was also after a highly stressful time when I was eating every carbohydrate in sight!!!!

My doctors (both reg. physician and RE) feel that Actos is better for Insulin Resistance.....and that Glucophage is better for Type II Diabetes.....I don't remember all of the reasons, sorry...

I have not had any adverse side effects since taking Actos.......no stomache aches or nose bleeds or anything like that....

HTH at least a little bit...

Sandra

miranda1977 · 09-04-2002, 07:32 AM

Hi guys,

Well, I've been on Actos for three weeks and despite mammoth sessions at the gym (running 5km, pump classes, aerobics - everything) and eating a dietician supervised diet, I've managed to put on about 2.5kg. So when I got on the scales this morning I said, no way, I'm not doing this and got back on the gluc.

I'm annoyed because I went to the endo with the aim of weight loss and nothing else. I'm not ttc, I don't have bad body hair problems, weight loss was my main priority. But I think in my drs mind that because I'm not majorly obese - I'm just in the old "overweight" category, he thinks it's not a big priority and taking Actos would be good for the other health issues related to PCOS. He calls my extra wait nothing more than a "nuisance".

Anyway, I'm calling him tomorrow to tell him how I feel and see what happens. Logically though, what I don't understand is this: if I am severely insulin resistant and what is making me fat is my body's over production of insulin, you'd think a drug that is excellent in combatting insulin resistance would actually assist in losing weight. That's the logical view. So what is it about Actos that actually makes you put the weight on.

Back to the gluc - and the funny tummy - for me. I'll keep everyone posted as to what the doc recommends to do. I think I need Reductil (Meridia).

Miranda

realmm · 10-03-2002, 06:50 AM

I asked the same question to a several dietitians at the hospital I work at, and they all said it is because it causes water retention. I got off it for that reason. It was making my blood pressure increase.

pmc1203 · 10-07-2002, 07:31 PM

My MD put me on Actos and in 6 weeks I gained 10 pounds, pushing me over the 300 mark!!! Most of the weight went into my arms and legs. I felt like I had grapefruits under my arms and I'll never forget the feeling of horror one day in the store when I realized my thighs were rubbing together !!!!

(even though I'm a size 26 I have the typical Cyster thing going on with the huge belly and skinny legs)

The doc said it can cause "fluffy" fat to accumulate on the extremeties because it counteracts IR by sucking up carbs and blood sugar and forcing it into cells, unlike met which sends it on a night train thru your colon (HA!)

I said calling it fluffy didn't make it cute and could I please come off of it.

I am now on 2000mg of met and 30mg of Phentermine a day.

kimberly SS · 10-08-2002, 05:46 PM

but were you all gaining weight when on Actos alone or were you using Gluc and Actos? I am currently on Gluc XR (4 months) and no AF. I thought maybe I should look into Actos, but not sure if I should take it alone or with Gluc XR, especially if I will gain weight.

Any suggestions?

realmm · 10-11-2002, 12:55 AM

I was on actos alone when my weight was increasing. I've ramped up to 1500 mg on glucophage and my appetite is certainly different, for the better.
My turn to ask the silly question what is Gluc XR, AF?
Good luck!

Calantha · 10-11-2002, 02:33 AM

Gluc XR is extended release gluc, you take it once a day instead of twice and it slowly releases the medicine throughout the day. Personally, I don't think it works as well as regular gluc, but the docs claim it does.

AF is "Aunt Flo", just a more pleasant way of saying "your period".

-Brandy

pmc1203 · 10-14-2002, 12:53 PM

Sorry-just to clarify, I was on 45mg of Actos and 2000mg of Met.

I've been on the Met for about 2 years. I am still taking it. I have type 2 diabetes so my MD had added the Actos thinking it might help more with that and possibly lower my cholesterol (255) ugh.

After 1 month on Phentermine, I've lost an underwhelming 2 pounds.

I eat next to nothing but the weight doesn't budge. My doctor is very sympathetic and doesn't blame me at all but I am getting sick of belly helly.

Miss Maren · 11-07-2002, 10:53 PM

I was on this for 2 weeks but didn't do a liver function test like my doc told me to (shame on me), so I stopped until I went and did my test. Well, on those two weeks I gained weight, but my period came, my hot flashes stopped and my mood swings were better, as well as my migraines. Yesterday I started it again and am hoping this isn't going to cause long term weight gain because I CANNOT gain anymore weight, this is becoming dangerous. I am 235lbs and am 5'2.

If those on Actos will keep everyone up to date, that would be wonderful. I will try to do the same.

Btw, it makes me mildly nauseated for the first few days, but that is it. If I take it w/food, that helps the nausea a great deal.