Actos vs. Baqsimi

Actos (pioglitazone hydrochloride) and Baqsimi (glucagon) Nasal Powder are antihypoglycemic agents used to control blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes.

Actos is used for type 2 diabetes, not type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis.

Baqsimi Nasal Powder is an emergency treatment indicated for the treatment of severe hypoglycemia and can be used by patients with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Side effects of Actos and Baqsimi Nasal Powder that are similar include headache and cold or flu-like symptoms (such as runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, cough, sore throat).

Side effects of Actos that are different from Baqsimi Nasal Powder include gradual weight gain, muscle pain, back pain, tooth problems, and mouth pain.

Side effects of Baqsimi Nasal Powder that are different from Actos include nausea, vomiting, upper respiratory tract irritation (i.e., nasal discomfort, and nosebleed), watery eyes, eye redness, and itchy nose, throat, and eyes.

Baqsimi Nasal Powder may interact with beta-blockers, indomethacin, and warfarin.

Actos may interact with alcohol and insulin.

Common side effects of Actos include:

• cold or flu-like symptoms (such as stuffy nose, sneezing, cough, sore throat),
• headache,
• gradual weight gain,
• muscle pain,
• back pain,
• tooth problems, and
• mouth pain.

Tell your doctor if you have serious side effects of Actos including:

• nausea,
• vomiting,
• stomach pain,
• blood in the urine,
• dark urine,
• painful urination,
• urinating more than usual,
• shortness of breath, even with mild exertion,
• swelling or rapid weight gain,
• chest pain,
• feeling unwell (malaise),
• nausea,
• upper stomach pain,
• itching,
• loss of appetite,
• clay-colored stools,
• blurred vision,
• increased thirst or hunger,
• pale skin,
• easy bruising or bleeding,
• weakness,
• yellowing skin or eyes (jaundice), and
• vision changes or loss.

Common side effects of Baqsimi include:

• nausea,
• vomiting,
• headache,
• upper respiratory tract irritation (i.e., runny nose, nasal discomfort, nasal congestion, cough, and nosebleed),
• watery eyes,
• eye redness,
• sneezing, and
• itchy nose, throat, and eyes

Actos (pioglitazone hydrochloride) is a thiazolidinedione and increases the body's sensitivity to insulin. Actos is used for type 2 diabetes, not type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis. Generic Actos is not available in the U.S., but is available in other countries as pioglitazone.

Baqsimi (glucagon) Nasal Powder is an antihypoglycemic agent indicated for the treatment of severe hypoglycemia in patients with diabetes ages 4 years and above.

Actos and other similar drugs may exacerbate symptoms of congestive heart failure (dyspnea, edema, weight gain) and these symptoms may be serious. Patients with congestive heart failure classified as III or IV (NY Heart Association) should not take this Actos. Other serious side effects of Actos include nausea, vomiting, jaundice, and vision changes or loss; it may also cause hypoglycemia.

Baqsimi Nasal Powder may interact with beta-blockers, indomethacin, and warfarin. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant before using Baqsimi Nasal Powder; it is not expected to harm a fetus. It is unknown if Baqsimi Nasal Powder passes into breast milk. Glucagon is a peptide and would be expected to be broken down to its constituent amino acids in an infant's digestive tract and is therefore unlikely to cause harm to an exposed infant. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Actos is available as tablets in strengths of 15, 30 or 45 mg. Dose is dependent on patient response and the prescribing doctor's clinical judgment; glucose tests may help determine doses.

The recommended dose of Baqsimi Nasal Powder is 3 mg administered as one pump spray of the intranasal device into one nostril.