[breezeonby]

I have been doing research on Actos and some of the side effects that it has. I am not sure that I trust this drug anymore. There is some controversy about whether this drug causes heart problems. My bout with pneumonia has me questioning the affect that it may be causing. I am currently using 2 liters of oxygen on a continuous basis. Tonight I needed to get out of the house and decided to take the trash out to the curb for pick-up. I wasn't going to bother hooking up the oxygen tank just to go to the curb. By the time I walked 35 feet, I was feeling very short of breath. I would have not been released from the hospital last Friday, without oxygen therapy in place at home. My 02 levels are 78% on room air and 98% on 2 liters of oxygen. I simply must see if stopping Actos might help with the shortness of breath. This is not the quality of life that I want. I really wish that I understood more about the heart and lungs. I have been told that I do not have any heart problems and have had a recent cardiac stress test that was very normal and my cardiac enzymes are normal, EKG's are normal. I still feel a part of the puzzle is missing.

 

[breezeonby]

Boy, Breeze . . . this is big. And if it's implicated in upper respiratory infections, how can it not cause suspicion with a lower respiratory infection as bad as you've had? Was your pneumonia a viral or bacterial strain? Have the docs made any connection? They better be looking!

Hang in there - this too gotta pass eventually.

I saw 3 different doctors when I was in the hospital. I saw my PCP, a pulmonary doctor and an infectious disease doctor. The pneumonia was a bacterial strain. I was on 3 antibiotics, round the clock breathing treatments and steroids. I really don't remember much about being in the hospital for the first 3 days, I was too sick to care. I didn't see any one doctor for any length of time, everything was so rushed. If you go to Ask a Patient: Medicine Ratings and Health Care Opinions and type in Actos, you will be able to read what people have to say about being on this drug, it has a very low rating.

 

[breezeonby]

Actos Update

I stopped taking Actos for 2 weeks and I did not feel any different. I did notice that my readings were higher without it. I have started taking it again.

 

[breezeonby]

Another Actos Update

I have been taken off of Actos for good. While in the hospital, my feet and ankles were so swollen and I was retaining too much water that my PCP felt that the Actos is part of the problem. I am now on 80MG of Lasix and still retaining fluid. I had a doppler study done on my legs to see if I had any clotting and the doppler study was negative and my blood flow in my legs and feet are good. When I get to feeling better, I am going to try and identify the edema problem. I am now watching my sodium intake and I don't use extra salt in foods.