Precautions

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure this medicine is working properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

If you are using this medicine to control high blood sugar, using it while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. If you can get pregnant, you must have a negative pregnancy test before starting and before restarting this medicine if you stop taking it for more than 14 days. Use an effective form of birth control (eg, condom, diaphragm, or cervical cap) to keep from getting pregnant during treatment with this medicine and for 1 month after the last dose. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away.

Do not use this medicine together with cyclosporine (Gengraf®, Neoral®, Sandimmune®), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45®, Migranal®), ergotamine (Ergomar®, Ergostat®), fentanyl (Sublimaze®), lovastatin (Altocor®, Mevacor®), pimozide (Orap®), quinidine (Quinora®), simvastatin (Zocor®), sirolimus (Rapamune®), tacrolimus (Prograf®), or a steroid medicine (eg, dexamethasone, hydrocortisone, methylprednisolone, prednisone, Medrol®). Using these medicines together may cause serious problems.

Do not use this medicine together with a blood thinner, including warfarin (Coumadin®).

Check with your doctor if the vaginal bleeding becomes severe or seems to last longer than expected (eg, soaking through two thick full-size sanitary pads per hour for 2 consecutive hours) while using this medicine.

Check with your doctor right away if you have chills, confusion, dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, fast heartbeat, fever that lasts for more than 4 hours, lower back or side pain, painful or difficult urination, or rapid, shallow breathing. These maybe a symptoms of serious infection (eg ,sepsis).

This medicine may cause adrenal gland problems. Check with your doctor if you have darkening of the skin, diarrhea, lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting, increased hunger, mental depression, nausea or vomiting, skin rash, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

Hypokalemia (low potassium in the blood) can occur with this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you have decreased urine, dry mouth, irregular heartbeat, increased thirst, loss of appetite, mood changes, muscle pain or cramps, nausea or vomiting, numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or lips, trouble breathing, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

This medicine can cause changes in heart rhythms, including QT prolongation. It may change the way your heart beats and cause fainting or serious side effects in some patients. Contact your doctor right away if you have fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeats.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal (eg, St. John's wort) or vitamin supplements.

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