Pioglitazone Hcl-Metformin Hcl Coupons & Prices

A free pioglitazone HCl and metformin HCl coupon from Rx.com can lower what you pay at the pharmacy counter for this generic type 2 diabetes tablet, the generic equivalent of Actoplus Met. Cash prices for the same prescription can differ a lot from one pharmacy to the next, even within the same town, so it pays to compare before you fill. Rx.com checks prices at more than 60,000 pharmacies nationwide. Enter your ZIP code above to see today's price near you, then show the coupon at the counter. No insurance is needed to use it.

What is pioglitazone and metformin, and how does it work?

Pioglitazone hydrochloride and metformin hydrochloride is a single tablet that combines two older diabetes medicines. Pioglitazone is a thiazolidinedione, and metformin is a biguanide. The two work in different ways. Per the label, pioglitazone decreases insulin resistance in the periphery and in the liver, which increases insulin-dependent glucose disposal and decreases hepatic glucose output. Metformin decreases hepatic glucose production, decreases intestinal absorption of glucose, and improves insulin sensitivity by increasing peripheral glucose uptake and utilization. Neither one works by forcing the pancreas to release more insulin.

The combination is FDA-approved as an addition to diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes when treatment with both pioglitazone and metformin is appropriate. That usually means someone already taking both medicines separately, or someone whose blood sugar is not well controlled on one of them alone. It is not approved for type 1 diabetes or for diabetic ketoacidosis. Your prescriber decides whether this combination fits your situation.

What pioglitazone-metformin costs without insurance

This medicine is available as an FDA-approved generic, and there is no manufacturer savings card for the generic. What you actually pay in cash is set by each pharmacy, and those cash prices are not standardized. Two pharmacies a few blocks apart can quote noticeably different amounts for the identical tablet, strength, and quantity, which is exactly why comparing is worth the minute it takes.

If you are paying cash, or if your plan's copay is higher than the discounted cash price, an Rx.com coupon may help. Enter your ZIP above to see today's price at pharmacies near you before you fill. A few practical notes: ask about the same strength and day supply at each pharmacy so you are comparing the same thing, ask whether a 90-day fill changes the price, and tell the pharmacist you want to use a discount coupon instead of insurance if that turns out to be cheaper. You cannot combine a coupon with insurance on the same fill.

Brand and related alternatives

The brand version of this combination is Actoplus Met, an immediate-release tablet. An extended-release brand, Actoplus Met XR, was previously sold in the US but has been discontinued, and there is no extended-release pioglitazone-metformin combination tablet currently listed on DailyMed from any manufacturer, brand or generic. If you are looking for an extended-release option, there is nothing in this combination to price out, so talk to your prescriber about alternatives. The generic immediate-release tablet is the same two active ingredients as the brand and is generally the lower-priced route, though the only way to know your price is to compare pharmacies.

Some people take the two drugs as separate prescriptions instead of one combined tablet, which can occasionally be cheaper or allow more flexible dosing. Related pages you may want to price out:

• Pioglitazone HCl and the brand Actos
• Metformin HCl and the brand Glucophage
• Sitagliptin and metformin HCl, a different metformin-based combination

Do not switch between a combination tablet and separate pills, or between products, without talking to your prescriber first.

Safety information you should know

This medicine carries two boxed warnings, the FDA's strongest. The first is congestive heart failure: thiazolidinediones including pioglitazone can cause or worsen heart failure. Watch for rapid weight gain, shortness of breath, or swelling after starting or after a dose increase, and tell your prescriber. It is not recommended if you have symptomatic heart failure and is contraindicated in NYHA Class III or IV heart failure. The second is lactic acidosis, a rare but potentially fatal buildup related to metformin. Risk is higher with kidney problems, age 65 and older, liver problems, heavy alcohol use, low-oxygen states, surgery, imaging tests using contrast dye, and certain other medicines. If lactic acidosis is suspected, stop the drug and get emergency care right away.

Other important label warnings include bladder cancer (avoid in active bladder cancer; use caution with a history of it), bone fractures, especially in women and mostly in the arms and legs; edema and fluid retention, which is dose-related and worse with insulin; dose-related weight gain; low blood sugar when taken with insulin or medicines that push insulin release; vitamin B12 deficiency, for which the label advises measuring hematologic parameters annually and vitamin B12 at 2 to 3 year intervals; macular edema; and the return of ovulation in premenopausal women who were not ovulating, which can mean an unexpected pregnancy. Liver tests should be checked before starting. It is contraindicated in significant kidney impairment, diabetic ketoacidosis, and known hypersensitivity. This page is information, not medical advice. Review the full label and your own history with your prescriber or pharmacist.