Average dose was about 73 units. Subjects checked their blood glucose levels two to four times a day. Some people were able to take fewer injections of insulin per day. Taking all the troglitazone studies done over the years, the troglitazone groups and the placebo groups have weight gains within about 2 pounds of each other. Troglitazone used alone does not cause hypoglycemia.
People using troglitazone and injected insulin can experience hypoglycemia.
People taking placebo and those taking troglitazone reported side effects at about the same rate. Troglitazone has been approved for use in people with type II diabetes who, despite using more than 30 units of insulin a day, given in two or more shots, have inadequate blood glucose control, defined as an HbA1c of more than 8.5 percent. Parke-Davis will seek FDA approval for use in other populations as more studies are completed. The recommended starting dose is 200 or 400 mg once a day. Maximum response to the starting dose will be seen in about four weeks.