What is acarbose?
Acarbose slows the digestion of carbohydrates in the body, which helps control blood
sugar levels.
Acarbose is used 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 other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking acarbose?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to acarbose, or if you are in a state of
diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment with insulin). You also should not use
acarbose if you have:
-
inflammatory bowel disease;
-
a blockage in your intestines;
-
a digestive disorder affecting your intestines;
-
intestinal ulcer (of your colon); or
-
cirrhosis of the liver.
Before taking acarbose, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any
drugs, or if you have:
If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment
or special tests to safely take this medication.
FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an
unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known whether acarbose passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing
baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How should I take acarbose?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in
larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on
your prescription label.
Take acarbose with the first bite of a main meal,
unless your
doctor tells you otherwise.
Your medication needs may change if you become sick or injured, if you have a serious
infection, or if you have any type of surgery. Your doctor may want you to stop taking acarbose
for a short time if any of these situations affect you. Do not change your dose or stop taking
acarbose without first talking to your doctor.
To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood sugar will need to be
checked often. Your doctor may also need to do other blood tests on a regular basis. Do not
miss any scheduled appointments.
Take care to keep your blood sugar from getting too low, causing
hypoglycemia
. You may have hypoglycemia if you skip a meal, exercise too long, drink alcohol, or
are under stress.
Know the signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and how to recognize them:
-
hunger, weakness, nausea, irritability, tremors;
-
drowsiness, dizziness, headache, blurred vision;
-
confusion, trouble concentrating;
-
sweating, fast heartbeat;
-
seizure (convulsions); or
-
fainting, coma (severe hypoglycemia can be fatal).
Keep a supply of oral glucose (dextrose) with you in case you
have low blood sugar. While you are taking acarbose, candy or table sugar (sucrose) may not
work as well as dextrose in quickly raising your blood sugar. Also be sure your family and close
friends know how to help you in an emergency.
Acarbose is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes diet, exercise,
and weight control. It is important to use this medicine regularly to get the most benefit. Get
your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.
Store acarbose at room temperature in a tightly closed container, away from moisture
and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose of acarbose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember (be sure to take it with a meal). If it has
been longer than 15 minutes since you started your meal, you may still take acarbose but it may
be less effective than taking it with the first bite of the meal.
Do not
take
acarbose between meals, and do not take extra medicine to make up a missed dose.
Where can I get more information about acarbose?
Your pharmacist has information about acarbose written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of acarbose?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these liver symptoms:
-
low fever;
-
nausea, stomach pain, loss of appetite;
-
dark urine, clay-colored stools; or
-
jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Less serious side effects may include:
-
mild stomach pain, gas, bloating;
-
diarrhea; or
-
mild skin rash or itching.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell
your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about acarbose?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to acarbose, or if you are in a state of
diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment with insulin). You also should not use
acarbose if you have inflammatory bowel disease, an ulcer or blockage in your intestines, or
cirrhosis of the liver.
Before taking acarbose, tell your doctor if you have liver disease, or any type of stomach
or intestinal disorder.
Take acarbose with the first bite of a main meal,
unless your
doctor tells you otherwise.
Your medication needs may change if you become sick or injured, if you have a serious
infection, or if you have any type of surgery. Do not change your dose or stop taking acarbose
without first talking to your doctor.
If you take acarbose with insulin or other diabetes medications, your blood sugar
could get too low. Take care to keep your blood sugar from getting too low, causing
hypoglycemia
. You may have hypoglycemia if you skip a meal, exercise too long,
drink alcohol, or are under stress. Symptoms of low blood sugar may include headache, nausea,
hunger, confusion, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, blurred vision, fast heartbeat, sweating,
tremor, or trouble concentrating.
Keep a supply of oral glucose (dextrose) with you in case you have low blood sugar.
While you are taking acarbose, candy or table sugar (sucrose) may not work as well as dextrose
in quickly raising your blood sugar. Also be sure your family and close friends know how to
help you in an emergency.
Acarbose is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes diet, exercise,
and weight control. It is important to use this medicine regularly to get the most benefit. Get
your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.
What should I avoid while taking acarbose?
Avoid drinking alcohol while taking acarbose. Alcohol lowers blood sugar and may
increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
Avoid taking a digestive enzyme such as pancreatin, amylase, or lipase at the same time
you take acarbose. These enzymes can make it harder for your body to absorb acarbose.
Products that contain digestive enzymes include Arco-Lase, Cotazym, Donnazyme, Pancrease,
Creon, and Ku-Zyme.
What other drugs will affect acarbose?
You may be more likely to have hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) if you are taking
acarbose with other drugs that raise blood sugar. Drugs that can raise blood sugar include:
-
isoniazid;
-
digoxin;
-
niacin, nicotine patches or gum;
-
diuretics (water pills);
-
steroids (prednisone and others);
-
phenothiazines (Compazine and others);
-
thyroid medicine (Synthroid and others);
-
birth control pills and other hormones;
-
seizure medications (Dilantin and others);
-
cold or asthma medications;
-
diet pills, stimulants, or medicines to treat ADHD; or
-
a calcium channel blocker such as diltiazem (Tiazac,
Cartia, Cardizem), felodipine (Plendil), nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), verapamil (Calan,
Covera, Isoptin, Verelan), and others.
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can affect
your blood sugar or interact with acarbose. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and
over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other
doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of acarbose?