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Compare Toujeo vs. Actos

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

Key takeaways

Toujeo (insulin glargine) and Actos (pioglitazone) are both prescription medications used to manage diabetes, but they have some important differences. Toujeo is a long-acting insulin used for both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, while Actos is a thiazolidinedione used only for Type 2 diabetes. Toujeo is injected under the skin once daily, whereas Actos is taken by mouth once a day. Toujeo is available only as a brand-name medication, while Actos is available in both brand and generic forms and so may be more affordable. Common side effects of Toujeo include low blood sugar and cold symptoms, while Actos can cause swelling and headache. Actos can worsen heart failure and is not recommended for people with moderate to severe heart failure, whereas Toujeo can cause low blood sugar. If you take Toujeo with another type of insulin, always check the medication labels to be sure you are using the right one.

  • Toujeo (insulin glargine)
    Pioglitazone (Actos)
  • Toujeo (insulin glargine)
    Pioglitazone (Actos)

  • Summary of Toujeo vs. Actos

    Summary for Insulin
    Prescription only

    Toujeo SoloStar and Toujeo Max SoloStar are a pair of brand names for insulin glargine. It's a long-acting insulin that's used for diabetes in adults and children. This medication is a more concentrated version of insulin glargine containing 300 units/mL. Toujeo (insulin glargine) comes as prefilled pens. You inject the medication under the skin once daily. Side effects include common cold symptoms and low blood sugar.

    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.

  • Indications of Toujeo vs. Actos

    Indications for
    •Type 1 diabetes
    •Type 2 diabetes
    Indications for
    •Type 2 diabetes in adults, along with diet and exercise

  • Pros and Cons of Toujeo vs. Actos

    Pros and Const for Insulin
    Pros
    •Long-lasting insulin that provides consistent, all-day blood sugar control
    •Given once a day
    •Available as a prefilled pen
    •Good choice for people who need high doses of long-acting insulin
    •Can use in children as young as 6 years old
    Cons
    •Must inject under the skin
    •Might be hard for some people to administer correctly
    •Has a risk of causing low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
    •Might cause weight gain
    •Can't mix with other insulins
    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

  • Common Side Effects of Toujeo vs. Actos

    Common Side Effects for
    •Common cold symptoms
    •Upper respiratory tract infection
    •Low blood sugar
    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.

  • Warnings of Toujeo vs. Actos

    Common Side Effects for
    •Risk of infections with pen sharing
    •Risk of changes to blood sugar levels with changes to your insulin regimen
    •Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
    •Low potassium levels
    •Swelling and heart failure when used with certain diabetes medications
    •Allergic reactions
    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

  • Prices with our coupons for Toujeo vs. Actos

    Learn more about Toujeo
    Learn more about Pioglitazone

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