Pioglitazone is an antihyperglycemic used as an adjunct to diet, exercise, and other antidiabetic medications to manage type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is administered as a racemic mixture, though there is no pharmacologic difference between the enantiomers and they appear to interconvert in vivo with little consequence. The thiazolidinedione class of medications, which also includes rosiglitazone and troglitazone, exerts its pharmacological effect primarily by promoting insulin sensitivity and the improved uptake of blood glucose via agonism at the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ). PPARs are ligand-activated transcription factors that are involved in the expression of more than 100 genes and affect numerous metabolic processes, most notably lipid and glucose homeostasis.
Thiazolidinediones, including pioglitazone, have fallen out of favor in recent years due to the presence of multiple adverse effects and warnings regarding their use (e.g. congestive heart failure, bladder cancer) and the availability of safer and more effective alternatives for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Pioglitazone is indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is also available in combination with metformin, glimepiride, or alogliptin for the same indication.
Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, Korea, Republic of
International Centre for Circulatory Health, London, United Kingdom
Dr. Michael Morcos, Heidelberg, Germany
IKFE, Mainz, Germany
Medical Department M, The Medical Research Laboratories, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus C, Denmark
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
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