Acarbose tablet use side-effect mechanism

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

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

Generic name: acarbose

Brand name: Precose

Dosage form: oral tablet (100 mg; 25 mg; 50 mg)

Drug class: Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors ( Antidiabetic Agents )

Storage: Oral: Store below 25°C.

Mechanism of action acarbose tablet:

Acarbose tablet competitively and reversibly inhibits pancreatic a-amylase and intestinal brush border a-glucosidases, resulting in retardation of glucose absorption from hydrolysed complex carbohydrates and reduction of blood-glucose concentrations.

Absorption: 35% absorbed from the GI tract (oral).

Metabolism: Intestines by microbial flora and intestinal enzymes.

Excretion: Via urine and faeces.

Acarbose tablet information and indication & Dosage of Acarbose Oral drug:

For Type 2 diabetes mellitus

• Adult: Initially dose acarbose 25 mg daily. May adjust dose at 4-8 weakly intervals based on tolerance and 1-hr post-prandial blood glucose levels. Maintenance dose: 50-100 mg (tid) three time a day. Max: =60 kg: 50 mg (tid) three time a day; >60 kg: 100 mg (tid).

How to take acarbose tablet:

Follow directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in smaller or larger amounts or for longer than recommended. 

Acarbose Should be taken with food. Take with 1st bite of each main meal.

your blood sugar level need to check other wise consult with a doctor and check your blood sugar.

If you take acarbose tablet and your blood sugar level low (hypoglycemia) Symptoms include headache, hunger, sweating, confusion, irritability, dizziness, or feeling shaky. In case you have low blood sugar always keep a source of dextrose (D-glucose) . When you taking acarbose, dextrose will work better than cane sugar or table sugar in treating hypoglycemia.

Side effect of acarbose tablet:

• Flatulence
• Abdominal pain
• Distension
• Diarrhoea
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Elevation of transaminases
• Hepatitis
• Jaundice
• Rarely, skin reactions.

Life threatening condition: Hepatotoxicity ( Toxic liver disease is damage to your liver and it’s also called hepatotoxicity or toxic hepatitis. If you don’t get help It can cause serious symptoms or liver damage. Possible causes of hepatotoxicity are medications, herbal supplements, chemicals, solvents, and alcohol.)

Acarbose interactions with another drug:

• This drugs that may increase blood glucose levels: E.g. thiazides, steroids, chlorpromazine, atypical antipsychotics, may antagonise the action of acarbose.
• Avoid concomitant administration because it can cause GI adsorbents and digestive enzyme preparations may reduce acarbose effects . Due to effects of acarbose cholestyramine may enhance and Effects of other hypoglycaemics may be potentiated by acarbose.
• Neomycin may enhance reduction of postprandial blood-glucose and intensify GI symptoms.
• May interact with warfarin and affect INR International normalized ratio.
• May increased risk of hypoglycaemia with disopyramide.
• Acarbose reduce digoxin bioavailability.

When you not take this medicine:

if you are allergic to it you should not use acarbose.

• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

• Any blockage in your intestines

• Affecting your intestines like digestive disorder

• Intestinal ulcer in your colon

• Cirrhosis of the liver

• If you have diabetic ketoacidosis ( then call your doctor for treatment with insulin).

Acarbose is may not  harm an unborn baby and tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

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

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

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take your 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 and do not take acarbose between meals, and do not take extra medicine to make up a missed dose.