Acarbose

Generic name: Acarbose
Brand names: Precose
Dosage form: oral tablet (100 mg; 25 mg; 50 mg)
Drug class: Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors

Usage of Acarbose

Acarbose slows the digestion of carbohydrates in the body, which helps control blood sugar levels.

Acarbose is used together with diet and exercise to treat type 2 diabetes. Acarbose is sometimes used in combination with insulin or other diabetes medications you take by mouth.

Acarbose may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Acarbose side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Acarbose may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

severe constipation;

severe stomach pain, diarrhea that is watery or bloody;

easy bruising, unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin; or

liver problems--nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tired feeling, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Common side effects of acarbose may include:

stomach discomfort, gas, bloating;

mild diarrhea; or

mild skin rash or itching.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Acarbose

You should not use acarbose if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

inflammatory bowel disease;

a blockage in your intestines;

a digestive disorder affecting your intestines;

intestinal ulcer (of your colon);

cirrhosis of the liver; or

diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment with insulin).

To make sure acarbose is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

liver disease;

kidney disease;

a bowel or intestinal disorder; or

a stomach disorder.

acarbose is not expected to harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

It is not known whether acarbose passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are using acarbose.

Acarbose is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

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How to use Acarbose

Usual Adult Dose for Diabetes Type 2:

Individualize dose based on efficacy and tolerability:Initial dose: 25 mg orally 3 times a day -Adjust dose at 4 to 8 week intervals based on efficacy and tolerabilityMaintenance dose: 50 mg to 100 mg orally 3 times a dayMaximum dose: Weight 60 kg or less: 50 mg orally 3 times a day; Weight greater than 60 kg: 100 mg orally 3 times a dayComments:-Take at the start (with first bite) of each main meal; patients should be adhering to a diabetic diet to minimize GI side effects. -Some patients benefit from starting at 25 mg orally once a day with subsequent titration to 3 times a day to minimize GI side effects. -If no further reduction in postprandial glucose or HbA1c is observed with titration to 100 mg three times a day, consider lowering the dose. Use: As an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Warnings

You should not use acarbose if you have inflammatory bowel disease, an ulcer or blockage in your intestines, or cirrhosis of the liver. Do not use acarbose if you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment with insulin).

What other drugs will affect Acarbose

You may be more likely to have hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) if you take acarbose with other drugs that can raise blood sugar, such as:

isoniazid (for treating tuberculosis);

niacin (Advicor, Niaspan, Niacor, Simcor, Slo Niacin, and others), nicotine patches or gum;

birth control pills and other hormones;

a diuretic or "water pill";

heart or blood pressure medicine;

insulin or oral diabetes medicine;

diet pills, stimulants, or medicines to treat asthma, colds or allergies;

phenothiazines (Compazine and others);

seizure medications (Dilantin and others);

steroids (prednisone and others); or

thyroid medicine (Synthroid and others).

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with acarbose, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

Disclaimer

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