Pioglitazone and Water Retention: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• June 9, 2010

Pioglitazone for Type 2 Diabetes "I have been on Actos for almost a year. I gained 24 pounds and have swelling in my hands and feet and am 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. I will get a second opinion because the side effects are too much."

• gra...
• July 17, 2007

Pioglitazone for Type 2 Diabetes "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."

• Sus...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 17, 2023

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have been taking 45 mg of pioglitazone for about 6 months. My sugars are better, but I have gained over 10 pounds. For someone who is only 4 ft 10 in tall, that is a lot of weight! I struggle with weight issues anyway. I mentioned to my doctor that I was having problems losing weight with a 1,200 calorie diet. She just said to exercise more. I feel bloated in my abdominal area as well as everywhere else. I am exhausted all the time, and I hurt all over. After wracking my brain trying to figure out what was different to cause these issues, I looked up the side effects of pioglitazone. There they were... all of the issues I have been experiencing. I stopped the medication two days ago. I hope to see a difference in the weight, water retention, and pain. I will update after a few weeks! I still take metformin and Farxiga (but Farxiga costs me almost $400 a month!). Big pharma just cares about money, not people."