Pioglitazone 15mg tablets
Requires a prescription from a doctor or prescriber
Drugs used in diabetes
Official documents, adverse reaction reporting, and safety monitoring
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Official medicine documents
Safety monitoring data
Yellow Card reports
The MHRA Yellow Card scheme collects reports of suspected side effects from healthcare professionals and patients. View the Drug Analysis Profile (iDAP) for real-world adverse reaction data.
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Suspected adverse reactions reported for Pioglitazone
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Report a side effect
Submit a Yellow Card report to the MHRA
Data from the MHRA Yellow Card scheme. A reported reaction does not necessarily mean the medicine caused it. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
EudraVigilance
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) collects suspected adverse reaction reports from across the EU/EEA through the EudraVigilance system. Search for safety data on this medicine.
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Suspected adverse reactions reported for Pioglitazone
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EudraVigilance data is published by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). A suspected adverse reaction is not necessarily caused by the medicine.
32 branded products available
MHRA licensed products
View all licensed products for Pioglitazone on the MHRA register
Actos 15mg tablets
Actos 15mg tablets
Actos 15mg tablets
Pioglitazone 15mg tablets
Pioglitazone 15mg tablets
Pioglitazone 15mg tablets
Pioglitazone 15mg tablets
Pioglitazone 15mg tablets
Pioglitazone 15mg tablets
Pioglitazone 15mg tablets
Pioglitazone 15mg tablets
This is the NHS Drug Tariff indicative price used for reimbursement purposes. It may not reflect the price paid by patients or pharmacies.
View full Drug TariffSource: NHS Drug Tariff via NHSBSA. Derived from dm+d VMPP (Virtual Medicinal Product Pack) pricing data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
WHO defined daily dose (DDD)
30 mg
Not a recommended dose. The DDD is the assumed average maintenance dose per day for a drug used for its main indication in adults. It is a statistical measure used for research and comparison purposes only.
Source: WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, distributed via NHS dm+d BNF mapping files. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Therapeutically similar medicines
Similarity based on WHO Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification and NHS BNF section grouping. Source data: NHS dm+d via TRUD (OGL v3.0), WHO ATC/DDD Index.
NHS prescribing volume and spending trends
Clinical guidelines and formulary information
British National Formulary
Pioglitazone
Source: British National Formulary, NICE. Joint Formulary Committee. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
NICE clinical guidance(12)
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): assessment and management (NG49)
Type 2 diabetes in adults: management (NG28)
Ertugliflozin with metformin and a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor for treating type 2 diabetes (TA583)
Canagliflozin, dapagliflozin and empagliflozin as monotherapies for treating type 2 diabetes (TA390)
Dapagliflozin in triple therapy for treating type 2 diabetes (TA418)
Dapagliflozin in combination therapy for treating type 2 diabetes (TA288)
Ertugliflozin as monotherapy or with metformin for treating type 2 diabetes (TA572)
Canagliflozin in combination therapy for treating type 2 diabetes (TA315)
Type 2 diabetes: insulin degludec/liraglutide (Xultophy) (ESNM60)
Type 2 diabetes: insulin degludec (ESNM25)
Tirzepatide for treating type 2 diabetes (TA924)
MRI-based technologies for assessing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (HTG655)
Source: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Check stock at pharmacies and supply information
Pharmacy stock checkers
Search for this medicine at major UK pharmacy chains. These links open the retailer's own website — results depend on their current online catalogue.
Supply & product information
Official product databases and supply status monitoring
Pharmacy links redirect to the retailer's own search and do not represent real-time stock levels. emc (electronic medicines compendium) is operated by Datapharm Ltd. Shortage information sourced from NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service (SPS), sps.nhs.uk.
Codes for healthcare professionals and prescribing systems
These codes are used by healthcare IT systems and prescribers to identify this medicine.
NHS UK identifiers
Browse tools
SNOMED CT and dm+d codes from NHS TRUD (Technology Reference data Update Distribution), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. BNF codes from NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA). ATC codes from the WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology (whocc.no).
Active and completed clinical studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health (NIH). Data accessed via ClinicalTrials.gov API v2. Trial information is provided for research purposes and does not constitute medical advice.
Pharmacology and chemical data from DrugBank
Key facts
Drug status
Approved
Major interactions
None known
Half-life
3-7 hours
Mechanism
Pioglitazone is a selective agonist at peroxisome proliferator-activated recepto…
Food interactions
1 warning
Human targets
2 targets
Data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0
Pharmacokinetics at a glance
Absorption
2 hours
Half-life
3-7 hours
[L11416]
Protein binding
99%
[L11416]…
Volume of distribution
0.41 L/kg
[L11416]
Metabolism
[L11416]…
Elimination
15-30%
Clearance
5-7 L/h
[L11416]
Pharmacokinetic data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0
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.[L11461]
[L11416]
It is also available in combination with [metformin],[L11419] [glimepiride],[L11422] or [alogliptin][L11425] for the same indication.
Known interactions with other medications. Always consult a healthcare professional.
Showing 50 of 832 interactions
[L11431]
One instance of overdose was reported during clinical trials with pioglitazone in which a patient took an oral dose of 120mg daily for four days, followed by 180mg daily for seven days[L11416] - this patient did not report any adverse clinical symptoms during this time. In the event of overdosage, employ symptomatic and supportive measures according to the patient's clinical status.
[L11416]
Significant fluid retention leading to the development/exacerbation of congestive heart failure has been reported with pioglitazone - avoid its use in patients in heart failure or at risk of developing heart failure.[L11416] There is some evidence that pioglitazone may be associated with an increased risk of developing bladder cancer. Pioglitazone should not be used in patients with active bladder cancer and should be used with caution in patients with a history of bladder cancer.[L11416]
How the body processes this drug — absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination
[L11416]
Steady-state concentrations of both parent drug and its primary active metabolites are achieved after 7 days of once-daily administration of pioglitazone.
[L11416]
Cmax and AUC increase proportionately to administered doses.
[L11416]
[L11416]
[L11416]
The M-III and M-IV metabolites of pioglitazone are >98% protein-bound (also primarily to albumin).
[L11416]
[L11416]
[L11416]
The pharmacologically active M-IV and M-III metabolites are the main metabolites found in human serum and their circulating concentrations are equal to, or greater than, those of the parent drug.
[A415]
The specific CYP isoenzymes involved in the metabolism of pioglitazone are CYP2C8 and, to a lesser degree, CYP3A4. There is also some evidence to suggest a contribution by extrahepatic CYP1A1.
[L11416]
[L11416]
[L11416]
Proteins and enzymes this drug interacts with in the body
Key regulator of adipocyte differentiation and glucose homeostasis. ARF6 acts as a key regulator of the tissue-specific adipocyte P2 (aP2) enhancer. Acts as a critical regulator of gut homeostasis by suppressing NF-kappa-B-mediated pro-inflammatory responses.
Plays a role in the regulation of cardiovascular circadian rhythms by regulating the transcription of BMAL1 in the blood vessels (By similarity)
PMID:11049757 PMID:11134050 PMID:20493079 PMID:8316221 PMID:8665924
Preferentially degrades benzylamine and phenylethylamine PMID:11049757 PMID:11134050 PMID:20493079 PMID:8316221 PMID:8665924
Enzymes involved in drug metabolism — important for understanding drug interactions
Proteins that transport this drug across cell membranes
PMID:10779507 PMID:15159445 PMID:17412826
Shows broad substrate specificity, can transport both organic anions such as bile acid taurocholate (cholyltaurine) and conjugated steroids (17-beta-glucuronosyl estradiol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), and estrone 3-sulfate), as well as eicosanoid leukotriene C4, prostaglandin E2 and L-thyroxine (T4) .
PMID:10779507 PMID:11159893 PMID:12568656 PMID:15159445 PMID:17412826 PMID:19129463
Hydrogencarbonate/HCO3(-) acts as the probable counteranion that exchanges for organic anions .
PMID:19129463
Shows a pH-sensitive substrate specificity towards sulfated steroids, taurocholate and T4 which may be ascribed to the protonation state of the binding site and leads to a stimulation of substrate transport in an acidic microenvironment .
PMID:19129463
Involved in the clearance of bile acids and organic anions from the liver .
PMID:22232210
Can take up bilirubin glucuronides from plasma into the liver, contributing to the detoxification-enhancing liver-blood shuttling loop .
PMID:22232210
Transports coproporphyrin I and III, by-products of heme synthesis, and may be involved in their hepatic disposition .
PMID:26383540
May contribute to regulate the transport of organic compounds in testes across the blood-testis-barrier (Probable). Can transport HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (also known as statins) such as pitavastatin, a clinically important class of hypolipidemic drugs .
PMID:15159445
May play an important role in plasma and tissue distribution of the structurally diverse chemotherapeutic drugs methotrexate and paclitaxel .
PMID:23243220
May also transport antihypertension agents, such as the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor prodrug enalapril, and the highly selective angiotensin II AT1-receptor antagonist valsartan, in the liver PMID:16624871 PMID:16627748
PMID:10358072 PMID:15159445 PMID:17412826
Shows broad substrate specificity, can transport both organic anions such as bile acid taurocholate (cholyltaurine) and conjugated steroids (dehydroepiandrosterone 3-sulfate, 17-beta-glucuronosyl estradiol, and estrone 3-sulfate), as well as eicosanoids (prostaglandin E2, thromboxane B2, leukotriene C4, and leukotriene E4), and thyroid hormones (T4/L-thyroxine, and T3/3,3',5'-triiodo-L-thyronine) .
PMID:10358072 PMID:10601278 PMID:10873595 PMID:11159893 PMID:12196548 PMID:12568656 PMID:15159445 PMID:15970799 PMID:16627748 PMID:17412826 PMID:19129463 PMID:26979622
Can take up bilirubin glucuronides from plasma into the liver, contributing to the detoxification-enhancing liver-blood shuttling loop .
PMID:22232210
Involved in the clearance of endogenous and exogenous substrates from the liver .
PMID:10358072 PMID:10601278
Transports coproporphyrin I and III, by-products of heme synthesis, and may be involved in their hepatic disposition .
PMID:26383540
May contribute to regulate the transport of organic compounds in testes across the blood-testis-barrier (Probable). Can transport HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (also known as statins), such as pravastatin and pitavastatin, a clinically important class of hypolipidemic drugs .
PMID:10601278 PMID:15159445 PMID:15970799
May play an important role in plasma and tissue distribution of the structurally diverse chemotherapeutic drug methotrexate .
PMID:23243220
May also transport antihypertension agents, such as the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor prodrug enalapril, and the highly selective angiotensin II AT1-receptor antagonist valsartan, in the liver .
PMID:16624871 PMID:16627748
Shows a pH-sensitive substrate specificity towards prostaglandin E2 and T4 which may be ascribed to the protonation state of the binding site and leads to a stimulation of substrate transport in an acidic microenvironment .
PMID:19129463
Hydrogencarbonate/HCO3(-) acts as the probable counteranion that exchanges for organic anions PMID:19129463
Proteins that carry this drug through the body
PMID:19021548
Major calcium and magnesium transporter in plasma, binds approximately 45% of circulating calcium and magnesium in plasma (By similarity).
Potentially has more than two calcium-binding sites and might additionally bind calcium in a non-specific manner (By similarity). The shared binding site between zinc and calcium at residue Asp-273 suggests a crosstalk between zinc and calcium transport in the blood (By similarity). The rank order of affinity is zinc > calcium > magnesium (By similarity).
Binds to the bacterial siderophore enterobactin and inhibits enterobactin-mediated iron uptake of E.coli from ferric transferrin, and may thereby limit the utilization of iron and growth of enteric bacteria such as E.coli .
PMID:6234017
Does not prevent iron uptake by the bacterial siderophore aerobactin PMID:6234017
ATC A10BD09
ATC A10BG03
ATC A10BD05
ATC A10BD06
ATC A10BD12
Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
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Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
Linked compound data from DrugBank Open Data (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Pioglitazone
Additional database identifiers
Drugs Product Database (DPD)
12012
ChemSpider
4663
BindingDB
50103521
Guide to Pharmacology
2694
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:9236
GenAtlas
PPARG
GeneCards
PPARG
GenBank Gene Database
U79012
GenBank Protein Database
1711117
Guide to Pharmacology
595
UniProt Accession
PPARG_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:6834
GenAtlas
MAOB
GeneCards
MAOB
GenBank Gene Database
S62734
GenBank Protein Database
398415
Guide to Pharmacology
2490
UniProt Accession
AOFB_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2595
GeneCards
CYP1A1
GenBank Gene Database
K03191
GenBank Protein Database
181276
Guide to Pharmacology
1318
UniProt Accession
CP1A1_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2622
GenAtlas
CYP2C8
GeneCards
CYP2C8
GenBank Gene Database
M17397
Guide to Pharmacology
1325
UniProt Accession
CP2C8_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2637
GenAtlas
CYP3A4
GeneCards
CYP3A4
GenBank Gene Database
M18907
Guide to Pharmacology
1337
UniProt Accession
CP3A4_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:399
GenAtlas
ALB
GeneCards
ALB
GenBank Gene Database
V00494
GenBank Protein Database
28590
UniProt Accession
ALBU_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:10961
GeneCards
SLCO1B3
GenBank Gene Database
AJ251506
GenBank Protein Database
9187497
Guide to Pharmacology
1221
UniProt Accession
SO1B3_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:10959
GenAtlas
SLCO1B1
GeneCards
SLCO1B1
GenBank Gene Database
AF060500
GenBank Protein Database
5051630
Guide to Pharmacology
1220
UniProt Accession
SO1B1_HUMAN
International reference pricing
Reference pricing from DrugBank. Prices are indicative and may not reflect current UK costs.
Source: DrugBank. Used under CC BY-NC 4.0 academic licence for non-commercial purposes.
Patent information
8 active patents, 29 expired
Source: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0. Patent data sourced from national patent offices. Expiry dates may not reflect extensions, regulatory exclusivity periods, or legal challenges.
DrugBank citations
If you use DrugBank data in your research, please cite the following publications: