rosiglitazone

drug

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 20, 2026

Quick Summary

Rosiglitazone is an antidiabetic drug used to treat type II diabetes. It belongs to a class of medications called thiazolidinediones, which work by decreasing insulin resistance in the body. This is achieved by activating specific receptors that regulate glucose and lipid metabolism. While effective, thiazolidinediones like rosiglitazone require regular monitoring of liver function due to potential hepatotoxicity. Another drug in this class, troglitazone (Rezulin), was removed from the market due to severe liver failures and deaths.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

diabetes mellitus
Drugs used to control blood glucose levels
Thiazolidinediones, such as rosiglitazone and pioglitazone, act by reducing insulin resistance of muscle and adipose cells and by increasing glucose transport into these tissues. These agents can cause edema (fluid accumulation in tissues), liver toxicity, and adverse cardiovascular events in certain patients. Furthermore, oral hypoglycemic agents lower mean…
Read More
Thiazolidinediones, such as rosiglitazone and pioglitazone, act by reducing insulin resistance of muscle and adipose cells and by increasing glucose transport into these tissues. These agents can cause edema (fluid accumulation in tissues), liver toxicity, and adverse cardiovascular events in certain patients. Furthermore, oral hypoglycemic agents lower mean…
Read More