{blacktriangledown}Pioglitazone and {blacktriangledown}rosiglitazone for diabetes

doi:10.1136/dtb.2001.39965

Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin 2001;39:65-68; doi:10.1136/dtb.2001.39965

${blacktriangledown}$ Pioglitazone and ${blacktriangledown}$ rosiglitazone for diabetes

Relevant BNF section: 6.1.2.3

&#9660Pioglitazone* (Actos - Takeda) and &#9660rosiglitazone*(Avandia - GlaxoSmithKline) belong to a new class of oral antidiabeticmedicines (the glitazones or thiazolidinediones). Both are licensedin the UK for "oral combination treatment of type 2 diabetesmellitus in [narrowly defined groups of] patients with insufficientglycaemic control despite maximal tolerated dose of oral monotherapywith either metformin or a sulphonylurea". They are not licensedfor use as monotherapy, in combination with insulin, or as partof triple therapy with metformin or a sulphonylurea. What canpioglitazone and rosiglitazone offer in the management of patientswith type 2 diabetes?