II. Indications
-
Oral Hypoglycemic for Type II Diabetes Mellitus
- Second line agent (although falling out of favor in 2012 due to risks)
- Add to other Oral Hypoglycemic agents
- Diabetes with coronary Vasospastic Angina pectoris
- Insulin Resistance Syndromes (experimental)
-
Psoriasis (experimental)
- Thiazolidinediones activate PPARs
- Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs)
- PPARs have antiinflammatory activity in Psoriasis
- Thiazolidinediones activate PPARs
III. Contraindications
- Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
- Liver disease (ALT > 2.5x upper limit of normal)
- CHF NYA Class III or Class IV Heart Failure
- Osteoporosis or Osteopenia
- Bladder Cancer
IV. Precautions
- CHF exacerbation risk (and contraindicated for NYHA Class III or IV) for ALL Glitazones (FDA Black Box warning)
V. Mechanism
- Thiazolidinedione derivative
- Primary mechanism: Increases peripheral tissue Insulin sensitivity
- Secondary mechanism: Decreases hepatic Glucose production
- Acts at liver, skeletal Muscle and fat cells
- Activates peroxisome proliferator activated receptors
- Receptors known as PPARS
- Reduces Insulin Resistance
- May independently reduce Cardiovascular Risk
- Increases Glucose uptake
- Decreases hepatic Glucose output
- Shifts fat deposition from visceral to subcutaneous
- Decreases free Fatty Acid levels
VI. Medications: Pioglitazone
- Preferred of the Glitazones due to vascular disease risk increase with Rosiglitazone
- Protocol
- Discontinue if no improvement in diabetes control within 8 to 12 weeks
- Dosing
- Initial: 15 to 30 mg orally daily
- Maximum: 45 mg per day
VII. Medications: Rosiglitazone (use only with caution)
- Precautions
- Limited use now due to increased Cardiovascular Risk
- FDA has restricted further Rosiglitazone use to those with refractory Type II Diabetes on other agents
- FDA will loosen restrictions in 2014 based on re-analysis of RECORD Study data, but caution is still advised
- (2014) Presc Lett 21(1): 3
- Conversion to Pioglitazone
- Rosiglitazone 2 mg is equivalent to Pioglitazone 15 mg
- Rosiglitazone 4 mg is equivalent to Pioglitazone 30 mg
- Rosiglitazone 8 mg is equivalent to Pioglitazone 45 mg
-
Rosiglitazone (Avandia)
- Initial: 4 mg PO qd (or 2 mg PO bid)
- Maximum: 8 mg per day (4 mg if on Insulin)
VIII. Adverse Effects
- Hepatotoxicity and Liver Failure
- Associated with Troglitazone use
- Troglitazone removed from U.S. market in March 2000
- Rosiglitazone and Pioglitazone may also cause this
- Follow Liver Function Tests closely
- Especially follow in first year
- References
- Fluid retention
- Congestive Heart Failure risk (see below)
- Peripheral Edema (in 3-5% of patients)
- Moderate weight gain (1-3 kg)
- Mild Anemia
- Variable lipid effects
- Pioglitazone (Actos)
- Lowers Triglycerides by 9-12%
- Raises HDL Cholesterol by 12-19%
- Rosiglitazone (Avandia):
- RAISES Triglycerides by 15%
- Raises HDL Cholesterol by 8-19%
- Raises LDL Cholesterol
- References
- (2005) Prescriber's Letter 12(8):43
- Pioglitazone (Actos)
- Risks of adverse effects (compounded when combined with Insulin)
- Weight gain (3-4 kg)
- Edema (8-10% of cases)
- Congestive Heart Failure
- Observe patients with CHF risk closely
- Hypoglycemia risk
-
Fracture Risk and Decreased Bone Density (Osteoporosis risk)
- Class effect
- Odds Ratio approaches 2.5 for Glitazone use >8 months
- (2008) Arch Intern Med 168:820-5 [PubMed]
-
Cardiovascular Risk
-
Rosiglitazone (Avandia) appears to increase CAD risk
- No longer recommended as a first-line agent
-
Pioglitazone (Actos) may slightly decrease CAD risk
- Atherosclerosis may be slowed by Actos
- Nissen (2008) JAMA 299(13):1561-73 [PubMed]
-
Rosiglitazone (Avandia) appears to increase CAD risk
-
Bladder Cancer risk
- Risk of up to 11 per 10,000 cases per patients taking Pioglitazone (actos) >1 year
- Mamtani (2012) J Natl Cancer Inst 104 (18): 1411-1421 [PubMed]
IX. Pharmacokinetics
- Hepatic metabolism by Cytochrome P450: CYP2C8
X. Monitoring
-
Liver Function Tests
- Initial: Baseline and in 6-12 weeks
- Later: Every 6 months
- Do not start medication if LFTs > 2.5x normal
- Stop medication if LFTs >3x normal
- Follow weight for weight gain (esp. if CHF risk)
XI. Efficacy
- Lowers Hemoglobin A1C 0.5 to 1.5%
- Delays Insulin need when added to Metformin, Sulfonylureas