Actos User Reviews & Ratings

Actos has an average rating of 4.9 out of 10 from a total of 40 reviews on Drugs.com. 29% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 47% reported a negative experience.

Condition	Avg. Rating	Reviews	Compare
Diabetes, Type 2	4.9	40 reviews for Diabetes, Type 2	152 medications
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Reviews for Actos

Ggano
Taken for 1 to 6 months
February 1, 2021

For Diabetes, Type 2 "I took this medicine for around a month and a half and it did nothing for my sugar levels. It caused a 15 pound weight gain. I stopped taking it after reading the serious side effects it can cause. Why take something that is going to make me worse off than I already am?"

1 / 10

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67 Report

Doodl...
Taken for 2 to 5 years
October 13, 2019

For Diabetes, Type 2 "Took Actos prescribed by VA doctor, now because of this, I have got stage 4 bladder cancer. It took 4 years and 36 treatments to get in remission. Actos is banned in some countries except USA. Yet the VA still prescribe it. Someone must be getting kickbacks, wither the FDA or VA in my opinion."

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77 Report

Tbeck...
July 3, 2013

For Diabetes, Type 2 "I am 66 years old and have been on Actos for over five years, taking 45mg. Lately I have experienced shortness of breath swelling of ankles and feet, weight gain, anemia and fatique. My primary physician ordered an echo-cardiogram and a lung function test and they both indicated my heart and lungs were fine. Dr. attributed the issues to my taking Actos and immediately took me off the medication. He replaced it with Tradjenta (5mg) and asked me to monitor my blood sugar levels three times a day during the transition. I have been off Actos for 24 hours and feel better already. I know that sounds impossible but I believe it may have been the cause of my recent health issues."

6 / 10

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139 Report

Dee
Taken for 1 to 6 months
March 28, 2021

For Diabetes, Type 2 "I was on Actos a couple of months. My sugar levels improved just slightly but I also put on about 12 pounds within that time frame. I had a bit of hair loss and had terrible swelling of my feet and legs which I didn’t normally have an issue with. I was not thrilled about starting this to begin with because of the awful side effects ( A BIG list of them) but my doctor wanted me to try it! Too many serious side effects for me! I just had her switch me to Glipizide. Too many meds to try without going through all of that and being miserable. Please research it if you are thinking about trying it!"

1 / 10

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49 Report

epiph...
January 25, 2011

For Diabetes, Type 2 "Took 30 mg Actos for 8 or so months was very happy with it at first. It did lower my numbers but...I had so many bad side effects. Weight gain, chronic fatigue, swelling, urgent need to urinate, watery eyes, and pain. I could barley get up my steps. I stopped taking this medicine myself and I feel as if I have been raised from the dead. "

1 / 10

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142 Report

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Vicky
Taken for 2 to 5 years
September 2, 2018

For Diabetes, Type 2 "I was on this pill for about 2 years gained about 40 pounds and also had really bad muscle pain. I took myself off of it so far have lost close too 20 pounds and muscle are feeling so much better. These pills the doctors give me freak me out. All the side effects are so bad."

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62 Report

Plowd...
Taken for 5 to 10 years
September 30, 2015

For Diabetes, Type 2 "I have been taking Actos for 5 years. Recently the cardiologist diagnosed me with heart failure. My EF is 30%. 2 weeks ago I stopped taking Actos and my fasting blood test is 125 the same reading as when I was taking Actos."

2 / 10

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66 Report

Anonymous
October 24, 2011

For Diabetes, Type 2 "Actos has worked well for me for 10 years and now comes FDA with another cancer scare. Anything can induce cancer and the scientific data on Actos causing cancer does not have that much credibility with me."

10 / 10

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82 Report

nosug...
October 16, 2010

For Diabetes, Type 2 "I've been taking 30 mg of Actos per day for 3 years. In that time I have gained 55 lbs and I have had problems with my feet, ankles and lower legs swelling. I would have stopped taking this medication a long time ago but I was blaming the water retention and weight gain on menopause. Now that I stopped taking Actos I lost 4 lbs in 2 days."

2 / 10

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86 Report

Rose...
January 14, 2015

For Diabetes, Type 2 "When I was initially diagnosed, my Dr. put me on Metformin, which just ripped my stomach to bits. He prescribed Actos in October, and I had really good luck with it until around Christmastime - I started having HORRIBLE sinus problems and nosebleeds. We dropped to a 15 mg dose, but still no change with the sinus issues. I went off it all together and all the symptoms disappeared. It was never our long term plan to keep me on Actos because of the cardiac implications, but it did the job we needed it to do; I went from fasting 400-504 BG readings down to fasting readings of 110-115."

7 / 10

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61 Report

CWA
September 15, 2009

For Diabetes, Type 2 "I was on Actos for nine months. At first it controlled my blood sugar well, but then I started to have blood sugar lows in the 40s, gained 28 pounds eating 1200 calories a day, swelling of feet and lower legs, and finally short term memory loss. Got a second opinion on the drug. Stopped it and all symptoms ceased within one week. I have lost 12 of the 28 pounds. I have lost 50 before this drug. I am now on glipizide and metformin. My blood sugar is a little higher but I feel so much better. I took a difficult college class and got an A, so I know my brain is functioning better. "

1 / 10

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78 Report

Kat...
Taken for 1 to 6 months
February 15, 2016

For Diabetes, Type 2 "I have been taking actos since Nov and had great results at first and now it seems like it it doesn't work at all even after taking an additional pill with evening meals. Blood sugar readings are the same with or without it"

2 / 10

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49 Report

Anonymous
October 29, 2011

For Diabetes, Type 2 "I have been taking Actos 15mg for about a month now, no ill effects like I feared. I keep watch for edema and so far nothing. My insurance would not cover the Januvia I used to be on- and for me Actos works better. My numbers are normal now (90-140) and they were high normal on the Januvia. I would recommend this medicine to people who cannot afford the DDP-4 (Januvia class) drugs."

9 / 10

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61 Report

Anonymous
March 4, 2008

For Diabetes, Type 2 "I was taking 30 mg of Actos daily, and for the two weeks after I seriously started taking it, I had dull throbbing headaches to full blown migraines non-stop! About 2 weeks into taking it, I developed a dull pain in my kidney area. Thinking it was a kidney infection, I went to my Dr's. We found out that it was muscle soreness...one of the common side effects. I also gained weight. As soon as I stopped taking it, the headaches stopped,and the muscle pain is going away."

3 / 10

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73 Report

Anonymous
June 9, 2010

For Diabetes, Type 2 "Have been on Actos for almost a year, gained 24 pounds and have swelling in hands and feet and are retaining a lot of water in my thighs. My sugar levels are good. My doctor lowered my dosage from 30 mg to 15 mg but refused to take me off. Will get a second opinion because the side effects are too much."

4 / 10

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63 Report

bjrouse
May 5, 2009

For Diabetes, Type 2 "My Doctor started me on 30 mg when I was diagnosed 13 months ago. I jog, hike, and lift weights and was experiencing lows quite frequently so my doctor and I decided to reduce my dosage to 15 mg. The lower dosage works great for me. My lows are more predictable and are not as frequent. Off setting the lows temporarily is easily accomplished with food or juice. I have not experienced any swelling, nor any side effects that I am aware of other than the occasional lows (80s). I think this is due to the low dosage, regular exercise, my diuretics for high blood pressure and watching what I eat carefully. I am very satisfied thus far with Actos."

10 / 10

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59 Report

Nikit...
June 17, 2010

For Diabetes, Type 2 "My doctor put me on Actos 6 months ago. I noticed swelling of legs and feet. The joints in my arms are aching daily. I also had a 23 pound weight gain and noticed headaches. But it has brought my sugar levels back under control. I didn't know about the particular side effects. I am going to talk to my doctor about them and see if I can get a replacement."

6 / 10

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51 Report

J0hn_...
Taken for 1 to 6 months
July 24, 2015

For Diabetes, Type 2 "Actos 15mg Metformin 850 mg works for me for almost 3 months now. Before I have fbs of 185 and 225 after meal. Now, almost everyday I prick, I got around 90 and 100 before and after meal. Better take these meds before breakfast."

10 / 10

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33 Report

nicamar
September 13, 2009

For Diabetes, Type 2 "I been taken Actos 30mg since a year from now and my sugar lever went down but not enough, then my doctor changed it to 45mg. Is great for my sugar level but my legs, feet and ankle can not handle it ss too much swelling."

5 / 10

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47 Report

shurg...
June 26, 2007

For Diabetes, Type 2 "I started on actos about six weeks ago. I was given a free supply by my doctor, but no mention of any side affects. When the free supply ran out I filled the prescription. A list of serious side affects was included with the prescription. One mentioned swelling of the feet and ankles which is was what I was experiencing. I stopped taking this drug and now the swelling is going down slowly."

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51 Report

grahamr
July 17, 2007

For Diabetes, Type 2 "I started taking Actos 45 about 8 weeks ago. It lowered my sugar dramatically. I take it with glyburide/metformin. My sugar is running from 57 to 65 when I wake. This causes lightheadedness and blurred vision. The other side effects are greatly enlarged legs and feet. The water retention is alarming. My doctor lowered it to Actos 30. See what happens. This may not be the drug for me."

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47 Report

pickle
August 18, 2008

For Diabetes, Type 2 "I have been taking this drug for one month and I feel so much better and my sugar is in control. I noticed that my digestive problems mostly disappeared when I started taking this drug. My IBS is much better. The swelling and bloating in my abdomen has reduced greatly. So far I have not had any noticeable side effects. I take 15mg daily."

10 / 10

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43 Report

Anonymous
June 4, 2009

For Diabetes, Type 2 "Been using Actos 15 mg with Metformin (2x1000) for several years now. Most of the side effects listed have not been a factor for me. I do have some swelling of the lower legs and ankles, but that was pre-existing. I have not noticed any difference since I have been on this medication."

8 / 10

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41 Report

dhann...
December 31, 2008

For Diabetes, Type 2 "I took Actos 45 mg for about 2 years an had swelling in my legs and muscle pain as side effects. Actos did bring my HbA1C down to 5.9 so it was great for blood sugar control but the side effects just got to be to much to handle. I tried switching to glucophage during that time but could not tolerate it due to stomach problems. My doctor is now switching me to glipizide and we'll see how that goes."

3 / 10

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39 Report

D...
November 21, 2008

For Diabetes, Type 2 " I used this drug for about 8 months and lost 3 teeth at rear of mouth, due to tooth decay. Then found out that tooth decay is a side effect in some people. Stopped taking it about 2 years ago and no more tooth problems."

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38 Report

Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.