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Alimta This page contains recent news articles, when available, and an overview of Alimta (pemetrexed) but does not offer medical advice. You should contact your physician with regard to any health issues or concerns. Why is Alimta prescribed? [MedMaster Patient Drug Information database] Pioglitazone is used, alone or in combination with other medications, to treat type 2 diabetes in people whose diabetes cannot be controlled by diet and exercise alone. Pioglitazone is in a class of drugs called thiazolidinediones. It works by increasing your body's sensitivity to insulin, a substance your body produces to help control blood sugar levels. Recent news articles mentioning Alimta NICE delays Alimta decision  -  Jan 24, 2007 Legal & Medical Magazine, A final decision on the chemotherapy drug Alimta, which could help scores of mesothelioma sufferers, will not be made for another nine months, the National Drug battle win verdict  -  Feb 15, 2007 Buxton Advertiser, The couple were spending a restful Valentine's Day after two months' wrangling with health officials over funding needed for Alimta – the only drug licenced EXCLUSIVE: Chinley woman wins cancer fight  -  Feb 14, 2007 Buxton Advertiser, Chinley woman Maureen Barnes has won her fight for the vital cancer drug Alimta. ... more ». THE FAMILY of a High Peak man killed in a horrific car crash EXCLUSIVE: Timebomb of cancer cases  -  Jan 25, 2007 Buxton Advertiser, Her warning comes as a second local woman has been denied the drug Alimta, which limits the effect of the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma – even though Eli Lilly Profit Falls But Still Beats Expectations  -  Jan 31, 2007 Forbes, The company said that its newer products, including Alimta, Byetta and Cialis, collectively grew more than 40% to $1.12 billion and accounted for 26% of Crash claims driver's life  -  Feb 1, 2007 Buxton Advertiser, Some were treated with Alimta eight and 12 years ago. It gave me a great lift." She said staying positive was crucial, but it was hard being left in limbo Eli Lilly's 4Q Profit Drops  -  Jan 31, 2007 Forbes, Newer products, including lung cancer treatment Alimta, Type 2 diabetes drug Byetta, erectile dysfunction medicine Cialis and antidepressant Yentreve, Lilly Announces 2006 Adjusted EPS of $3.18 Excluding Charges and ...  -  Jan 31, 2007 MSN Money Alimta For the fourth quarter of 2006, Alimta generated sales of $171.4 million, an increase of 26 percent compared with the fourth quarter of 2005. ROCK TRIBUTE TO ASBESTOS VICTIM  -  Feb 14, 2007 South Tyneside Today, Its first project involves looking at the chemotherapy drug Alimta, which is widely used in the USA to treat mesothelioma patients. Veterans with Mesothelioma Look to new Drug Designs  -  Feb 13, 2007 TransWorldNews (press release), N: Quote, Profile , Research) sells a drug for mesothelioma, Alimta, which is also used to treat non-small cell lung cancer. Scotland rejects Pfizer's Sutent but backs Novartis' Exjade  -  Feb 13, 2007 Pharma Times (subscription), The SMC also rejected Sanofi-Aventis' obesity drug Acomplia (rimonabant) and Eli Lilly's Alimta (pemetrexed) for non-small cell lung cancer. New drugs in the battle against cancer  -  Feb 4, 2007 ic Wales, When will it be appraised by Nice: Nice has already ruled that Alimta is too costly to be prescribed on the NHS. Appeals against the decision have been Eli Lilly & Co.'s fourth-quarter net income fell 81%, hurt by ...  -  Jan 31, 2007 Wall Street Journal (subscription), The company's other big performers were osteoporosis drug Forteo and lung-cancer drug Alimta. Fourth-quarter results were hurt by a 7% drop in sales of Cymbalta is bright spot as charges batter Lilly net income  -  Feb 1, 2007 Pharma Times (subscription), Cancer drug Gemzar (gemcitabine) was up 5% at $371.3 million and down 3% in the USA, while sales of lung cancer treatment Alimta (pemetrexed) increased 26% How should Alimta be used? [MedMaster Patient Drug Information database] Pioglitazone comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken once daily with or without meals. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take pioglitazone exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Pioglitazone controls type 2 diabetes but does not cure it. Continue to take pioglitazone even if you feel well. Do not stop taking pioglitazone without talking to your doctor. Other uses for Alimta [MedMaster Patient Drug Information database] Before using apomorphine, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to apomorphine, sulfa medications, any other medications, or sulfites. do not use apomorphine if you are taking a 5HT3 (serotonin) blocker such as alosetron (Lotronex), dolasetron (Anzemet), granisetron (Kytril), ondansetron (Zofran), or palonosetron (Aloxi). tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking. Be sure to mention any of the following: allergy, cough and cold medications; amiodarone (Cordarone); antidepressants; antihistamines; cisapride (Propulsid); disopyramide (Norpace); diuretics ('water pills'); dofetilide (Tikosyn); erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, Erythrocin); haloperidol (Haldol); medications to treat mental illness or upset stomach, heart disease, high blood pressure, pain, or seizures; metoclopramide (Reglan); moxifloxacin (Avelox); muscle relaxants; other medications for Parkinson's disease; phosphodiesterase inhibitors such as sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), or vardenafil (Levitra); pimozide (Orap); procainamide (Procanbid, Pronestyl); quinidine (Quinidex); sedatives; sleeping pills; sotalol (Betapace); sparfloxacin (Zagam); tranquilizers; or nitrates such as isosorbide dinitrate (Isordril, Sorbitrate), isosorbide mononitrate (Imdur, ISMO), or nitroglycerin (Nitro-BID, nitro-Dur, Nitroquick, Nitrostat, others). Nitrates come as tablets, sublingual (under the tongue) tablets, sprays, patches, pastes, and ointments. Ask your doctor if you are not sure if any of your medications contain nitrates. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. tell your doctor if you drink alcohol or if you have or have ever had asthma; dizziness; eye disease; fainting spells; irregular heartbeat; low blood pressure; mental illness; a sleep disorder; a stroke or mini-stroke, or other brain problems; sudden uncontrolled movements and falls; or heart, kidney, liver, or lung disease. tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while using apomorphine, call your doctor. if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using apomorphine. you should know that apomorphine may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car, operate machinery, or do anything that might put you at risk of getting hurt until you know how this medication affects you. you should know that you may suddenly fall asleep during your regular daily activities while you are taking apomorphine. You may not feel drowsy before you fall asleep. If you suddenly fall asleep while you are doing something such as eating, talking, or watching television, call your doctor. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you talk to your doctor. You should not drink alcohol while you are using apomorphine. Alcohol can make the side effects from apomorphine worse. you should know that apomorphine may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, upset stomach, sweating, and fainting when you get up too quickly from a lying or sitting position. This is more common when you first start using apomorphine or following an increase in dose. To avoid this problem, get out of bed or get up from a seated position slowly, resting your feet on the floor for a few minutes before standing up. What side effects can Alimta cause? [MedMaster Patient Drug Information database] This medication may cause changes in your blood sugar. You should know the symptoms of low and high blood sugar and what to do if you have these symptoms. You may experience hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) while you are taking this medication in combination with other medications used to treat diabetes. Your doctor will tell you what you should do if you develop hypoglycemia. He or she may tell you to check your blood sugar, eat or drink a food or beverage that contains sugar, such as hard candy or fruit juice, or get medical care. Follow these directions carefully if you have any of the following symptoms of hypoglycemia: shakiness dizziness or lightheadedness sweating nervousness or irritability sudden changes in behavior or mood headache numbness or tingling around the mouth weakness pale skin hunger clumsy or jerky movements If hypoglycemia is not treated, severe symptoms may develop. Be sure that your family, friends, and other people who spend time with you know that if you have any of the following symptoms, they should get medical treatment for you immediately. confusion seizures loss of consciousness Call your doctor immediately if you have any of the following symptoms of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar): extreme thirst frequent urination extreme hunger weakness blurred vision If high blood sugar is not treated, a serious, life-threatening condition called diabetic ketoacidosis could develop. Call your doctor immediately if you have any of the these symptoms: dry mouth upset stomach and vomiting shortness of breath breath that smells fruity decreased consciousness Pioglitazone may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away: sinus or respiratory infection headache muscle pain tooth or mouth pain sore throat weight gain swelling of the ankles or feet If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: difficulty breathing rapid weight gain swelling of the ankles or feet that happens very quickly stomach pain excessive tiredness dark urine yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm] or by phone [1-800-332-1088]. Brand names for Alimta [MedMaster Patient Drug Information database] Actos®