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Avandia
Pronounced: AH-van-DEE-ah
Generic name: Rosiglitazone maleate
Avandia is used to help decrease blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes (also known as "non-insulin dependent" or "adult onset" diabetes).
Blood sugar levels are ordinarily controlled by the body's natural supply of insulin, which helps sugar move out of the bloodstream and into the cells. In type 2 diabetes, the build-up of sugar in the blood is often due not to a lack of insulin, but to the body's inability to make proper use of it. Avandia by helping the body make more efficient use of whatever insulin is available. This results in lowered blood glucose levels and decreased glucose production by the liver. It does not increase the actual amount of insulin in circulation.
Avandia is a new type of diabetes medication. It can be used alone or in conjunction with metformin (Glucophage) or a member of the sulfonylurea class of diabetes drugs (Diabinese, Micronase, Orinase). It takes effect slowly. You may not see a reduction in blood sugar levels for the first 2 weeks of therapy, and it may take 2 to 3 months for the medication to deliver maximum results.
ADULTS
The usual starting dose of Avandia either alone or in combination with another diabetes drug is 4 milligrams once a day or 2 milligrams twice a day. If your sugar levels remain too high after 12 weeks of treatment, the doctor may increase your dose to 8 milligrams once a day or 4 milligrams twice a day. |
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