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Compare Actos vs. Baqsimi

Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, warnings, and more.

Key takeaways

Pioglitazone (Actos) and glucagon (Baqsimi) are both medications used to help manage blood sugar levels in people with diabetes, but they work in different ways and are used for different purposes. Pioglitazone is a once-daily thiazolidinedione (TZD) used to treat Type 2 diabetes. In contrast, glucagon is a nasal spray used in emergencies to quickly raise blood sugar levels in people experiencing severe hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). While pioglitazone is available in generic form, glucagon is not. Pioglitazone can cause side effects like weight gain and swelling and may worsen heart failure, while glucagon can cause watery eyes and a stuffy or runny nose. Pioglitazone can raise your risk for low blood sugar when taken with insulin or sulfonylureas (glipizide, glimepiride), whereas glucagon is used to treat low blood sugar emergencies. Pioglitazone is not recommended for people with heart failure or bladder cancer, while glucagon should be avoided if you have certain tumors like pheochromocytoma or insulinoma.

  • Pioglitazone (Actos)
    Baqsimi (glucagon)
  • Pioglitazone (Actos)
    Baqsimi (glucagon)

  • Summary of Actos vs. Baqsimi

    Summary for Thiazolidinedione
    Prescription only

    Pioglitazone (Actos) is an oral medication used to treat Type 2 diabetes in adults, along with diet and exercise. It's a thiazolidinedione, which works by helping your body respond better to insulin. This medication is taken by mouth once a day and is available in both brand and generic forms. Side effects include headache, swelling in the body, and weight gain. There's also a serious warning that it can cause or worsen heart failure.

    Summary for Anti-hypoglycemic
    Prescription only

    Baqsimi (glucagon) is a dry nasal spray used in an emergency to raise blood sugar in people with diabetes who are experiencing dangerously low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). You spray it into one nostril, but you don't need to inhale it. Like other emergency glucagon medications, you and your caregivers should know when and how to use Baqsimi (glucagon) before you need help.

  • Indications of Actos vs. Baqsimi

    Indications for
    •Type 2 diabetes in adults, along with diet and exercise
    Indications for
    •Severely low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) in adults and children age 4 years and older with diabetes

  • Pros and Cons of Actos vs. Baqsimi

    Pros and Const for Thiazolidinedione
    Pros
    •Only taken once a day
    •Rarely causes dangerously low blood sugar when taken by itself
    •Can be taken with or without food
    Cons
    •Can cause fluid buildup in the body
    •Not safe for people with moderate to severe heart failure
    •Not a good choice for people with bladder cancer
    Pros and Const for Anti-hypoglycemic
    Pros
    •Works very well to quickly raise blood sugar levels
    •Given as a puff in the nose rather than an injection like other glucagon products
    •Kept at room temperature, so you can carry it around with you
    •Still gets absorbed even if you have a cold or are taking medications for a cold
    Cons
    •Can commonly cause watery eyes and itchy, stuffy, or runny nose
    •Could be difficult for some people to use correctly
    •Not known if it's safe for children younger than 4 years old
    •Might not work well if you haven't had anything to eat for a while (see Risks and Warnings)

  • Common Side Effects of Actos vs. Baqsimi

    Common Side Effects for
    •Swelling (27%)
    •Upper respiratory tract infection (13%)
    •Headache (9%)
    •Heart failure (8%)
    •Sinus infection (6%)
    •Pain in the arms and legs (6%)

    Side effects above are for pioglitazone (Actos) taken alone. These might differ if it's taken with other medications.

    Common Side Effects for

    Adults:

    •Watery eyes (59%)
    •Stuffy nose (43%)
    •Itchy nose (39%)
    •Runny nose (35%)
    •Nausea (26%)
    •Eye redness (25%)
    •Sneezing (20%)

    Children:

    •Watery eyes (47%)
    •Stuffy nose (42%)
    •Vomiting (30%)
    •Itchy nose (28%)
    •Runny nose (25%)
    •Headache (25%)

  • Warnings of Actos vs. Baqsimi

    Common Side Effects for
    •Heart failure and swelling
    •Low blood sugar (when used with other medications)
    •Liver problems
    •Bladder cancer
    •Risk of bone fractures
    •Eye problems
    Common Side Effects for
    •High blood pressure in people with pheochromocytoma
    •Low blood sugar in people with insulinoma
    •Baqsimi (glucagon) not working well
    •Severe allergic reactions

  • Prices with our coupons for Actos vs. Baqsimi

    Learn more about Pioglitazone
    Learn more about Baqsimi

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