| I am a Type II diabetic. My glucose was in the 6-7 range, but my doctor decided it should be lower, so he prescribed Actos. In one year I gained 30 pounds even though I had not changed my diet. After threatening to go off the medication completely, he prescribed Avandia, which he said was in the same family, but would only cause 3 to 8 pounds weight gain which would be water. WRONG!!! I gained 33 pounds in the following year. After researching websites such as this one, I learned that these meds DO lead to weight increases, and it is subcutaneous (sp?)fat, even though your diet does not change. I changed to a new doctor who put me on a different medication. I have lost ten pounds through a 1200 calorie diet, but of course I have a long way to go. I cannot take Gluophage which helps with weight control. I am really upset with my former doctor because I am not the only patient who complained of the weight gain with these two drugs. The pharmacutical companies who produce these drugs should be held accountable for false advertising. They should state that these drugs cause an average weight gain of between 25-30 pounds. One website stated that as long as you're on these drugs, you may continue to gain weight. The additional weight has also affected my feet, which makes it uncomfortable to walk. |