NEW MEMBER wants to know : Anyone on Actos 30mg

Reply

shortie replied on Wed, Oct 14 2009 8:05 PM

rated by 0 users

Hi Cathey

I have been on Actos about 2 years.  15 mg once a day.  It works very well for me with no side effects.

Good luck.

Shortie

Reply

O3132W replied on Wed, Oct 14 2009 10:55 PM

rated by 0 users

Thanks Shortie.  I am concerned why my Dr is starting me on  30 mg.  Boy is this Actos expensive.  I have drug insurance but still have to pay $50.  I asked my pharm. when it may be possible for a generic and she said not until 8/2011.  Have you taken any other diab. drug before Actos?   Do you take it AM or PM?  Good to hear that you have no side effects.  Maybe I will be so lucky.

 I also take Atacand which is a drug to protect  kidneys from the effects of diabetes.  It is supposed to be generic possible 4/2010 under the name Cozaar.  Maybe this helps you. 

 Recently went down the breast cancer road and survived it.  My sugar was in control before that journey and I plan to be in control again. 

Thanks again for your input.

Reply

Ron AKA replied on Wed, Oct 14 2009 11:56 PM

rated by 0 users

Be aware that Actos takes about 6 weeks before it is fully effective. I used to be a fan of it, and was on it for a short while. Do you have any weight issues? Metformin is a common drug for type 2's, and I believe is generic now in the US. For kidney protection many take an ACE inhibitor. They are all about the same in effectiveness and there are generics such as ramapril now available.

Reply

kat replied on Thu, Oct 15 2009 8:51 AM

rated by 0 users

Metformin is the generic name for Glucophage.  Metformin is available in the U.S. for $4/month for one pill/day; may be more if two pills/day.  Among the $4 providers of metformin are Walmart and Target.

Reply

Simi_Papa replied on Thu, Oct 15 2009 3:17 PM

rated by 0 users

I take two 1000 mg tablets of Metformin every day and the prescription is only $10 for a three month supply (or $4 for a 30 day supply).

Reply

kat replied on Thu, Oct 15 2009 8:48 PM

rated by 0 users

Bill -

I also pay $10 for a three month supply of generics stocked by Walmart -- except they seem to charge more if two pills/day are prescribed.  Do you mind my asking where you get your metformin Rx filled?

Reply

Simi_Papa replied on Thu, Oct 15 2009 10:15 PM

rated by 0 users

I get it at Wal*Mart.  You need to check their list of $4 drugs, it will tell you how many pills that covers.  I used to be on 500 mg tablets and took 5/day.  That quantity (150) tablets was not covered, but 60 tablets of 1000 mg was covered.  Apparently their people don't know what the maximum dosage for Metformin is.   So I am actually taking a smaller dose, 2000 mg instead of 2500 mg, but it hasn't changed my bg readings as far as I can tell.  My last A1c was 5.8 (versus 5.9 the previous A1c) after having been on the smaller dose for about 9 months.

Reply

kat replied on Fri, Oct 16 2009 9:11 AM

rated by 0 users

Thanks, Bill.

My 2x/day Rx was for something other than metformin.  Next time I have it refilled, I'll check Wally's $4 list.

Reply

shortie replied on Mon, Nov 2 2009 7:07 PM

rated by 0 users

My doctor also wanted to start me on the double dose of Actos, but I asked why?  He said that is what usually works for most patients.  I told him I wanted to start on the smallest dosage and am still on that!  I am fortunate that my health insurance believes it is important to get diabetes patients to take their drugs ( preventative instead of curative medicine) and gives me all my diabetes drugs whether brand name of generic for $5 co pay for 90 days.    I take my Actos in the morning with my breakfast and 1000 glucophage.  I was on metformin first generic but some drug stores change the makers of the generics and one country's generics did not work for me.  I am on Diovan HCT but have also been on Cozaar.  And Hyzaar.....and Prinivil......every time my prescription company decides that a drug is not perferred, then I have to change to what they want me on!  Unreal, huh!

Good luck!  We just changed our health insurance policy from a PPO to an EPO...hope that doesn't screw things up for me.

Shortie