What is a common adverse effect of medications that increase insulin sensitivity?

Insulin sensitivity-enhancing medications, such as metformin or thiazolidinediones, can lead to hypoglycemia as a common adverse effect. These medications work by increasing the body's sensitivity to insulin, thereby allowing cells to use glucose more effectively. However, if the dosage is too high or if they are used in conjunction with other medications that lower blood sugar, there is an increased risk of hypoglycemia, which is a condition characterized by abnormally low blood glucose levels.

Understanding this helps underline the importance of careful monitoring of blood glucose levels in patients taking these medications, as patients may not recognize the signs of hypoglycemia until it becomes severe. In contrast, options such as hyperglycemia, weight loss, and headache are less directly associated with the action of insulin sensitivity medications. Hyperglycemia typically occurs when insulin is insufficient or ineffective, weight loss can occur due to various mechanisms but is not a direct outcome of increased insulin sensitivity, and headaches are non-specific side effects that can result from numerous causes, not solely from these medications.