Home :: Drugs :: Acarbose

Acarbose - Learn about Acarbose Side Effects and Precautions

Acarbose Information

The pharmacology action of Acarbose is inhibits intestinal enzymes that digest carbohydrate, thereby reducing carbohydrate digestion after meals. This lowers postprandial glucose elevation in diabetics.

Acarbose is used for patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus who have failed dietary therapy. May be used alone or in combination with sulfonylureas, insulin, or metformin.

Interaction and Contraindication of Acarbose

Interaction of Acarbose - Drugs that produce hyperglycemia (eg, corticosteroids, diuretics, thyroid preparations), phenothiazines, estrogens, oral contraceptives, phenytoin, nicotinic acid, sympathomimetics, calcium channel-blocking drugs, isoniazid:  May lead to loss of glucose control.
Contraindication of Acarbose - Diabetic ketoacidosis; cirrhosis; inflammatory bowel disease; colonic ulceration; intestinal disorders of digestion or absorption; partial or predisposition to intestinal obstruction; conditions that may deteriorate as a result of increased intestinal gas production

Side Effects of Acarbose

Here are the list of some common side effects of Acarbose :

• Flatulence (74%); diarrhea (31%); abdominal pain (19%).
• Elevated serum transaminases rarely associated with jaundice.
• Hypersensitivity skin reactions such as rash, edema (rare); decreased hematocrit; low serum calcium; low plasma vitamin B 6 levels

Precaution and Warning while taking Acarbose

The precaution and warnings of Acarbose drug is as follows:

• Educate patient regarding type 2 diabetes and its management, including target ranges for blood sugar control. Instruct patient that medication is not a substitute for diet and exercise and to continue to follow prescribed regimens.
• Educate patient or caregiver regarding potential long-term complications of diabetes and need for regular general physical and eye examinations.
• Advise patient to read Patient Information leaflet before starting therapy and with each refill.
• Advise patient to take prescribed dose at the start (ie, with the first bite) of each main meal.
• Advise patient that medication will be started at a low dose and then gradually increased as tolerated until max benefit is obtained.
• Advise patient to take as prescribed and not to stop taking or change the dose unless advised by health care provider.
• Advise patient to continue to take other medications for diabetes as prescribed by health care provider.
• Advise patient that GI side effects (eg, gas, diarrhea, stomach discomfort) are common when therapy is started or the dose is increased, but that they should become less intense or frequent with continued therapy. Advise patient to inform health care provider if GI side effects persist or become intolerable.
• Ensure that patient understands how to use home glucose monitor and has a plan for monitoring and recording blood sugar measurements (eg, log). Advise patient to take log to each visit with health care provider.
• Educate patient regarding value of periodic hemoglobin A1c testing to confirm level of glucose control.
• Advise patient to discuss with health care provider a plan for managing each of the following situations: medication dosing during intercurrent conditions (eg, vomiting, infection, trauma, stress, sick days); accidental administration of too little or too much medication; missed dose; inadequate food intake or a skipped meal; travel across time zones; change in physical activity.
• Advise patient to carry medical identification of diabetes (eg, Medi-Alert ).
• Review symptoms of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia and action plans to undertake in the event either occur. Caution patient to use only readily available sources of glucose (dextrose) for treatment of hypoglycemic reactions and to avoid using table sugar (cane sugar) because acarbose prevents cane sugar from being absorbed.
• Instruct patient to notify health care provider if experiencing hypoglycemic episodes or if measured blood sugars are outside target range.
• Advise women to notify health care provider if pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.

How to store Acarbose

• May be used alone or in combination with insulin, sulfonylureas, or metformin.
• Administer prescribed dose at the start (with the first bite) of each main meal.