Competact

Description

Competact contains pioglitazone, a thiazolidinedione, with metformin, a biguanide, in one tablet for type 2 diabetes. Pioglitazone makes body tissues more sensitive to insulin, and metformin reduces the glucose the liver releases while helping the body use its own insulin. One tablet is usually taken twice a day with or just after food, which lessens the stomach upset metformin can cause.

Pioglitazone can cause fluid retention, so this combination is not suitable if you have heart failure or a history of it; report breathlessness, swollen ankles or sudden weight gain straight away. Pioglitazone has been associated with bladder cancer, so report blood in the urine or a change in passing urine, and fractures are more common, particularly in women.

Liver function is checked before treatment and monitored during it, and kidney function is checked because of the metformin.

• Thiazolidinedione and biguanide combined in one tablet for type 2 diabetes
• Contains pioglitazone with metformin hydrochloride
• Usually one tablet twice a day with or just after food
• Not suitable with heart failure or a history of heart failure
• Report blood in the urine or a change in passing urine
• Liver and kidney function are monitored during treatment